Subclinical neck pain

Heidi HaavikFeb 1, '112 comments

Subclinical neck pain and the effects of cervical manipulation on elbow joint position sense.

OBJECTIVE:

The objectives of this study were to investigate whether elbow joint position sense (JPS) accuracy differs between participants with a history of subclinical neck pain (SCNP) and those with no neck complaints and to determine whether adjusting dysfunctional cervical segments in the SCNP group improves their JPS accuracy.

METHOD:

Twenty-five SCNP participants and 18 control participants took part in this pre-post experimental study. Elbow JPS was measured using an electrogoniometer (MLTS700, ADInstruments, New Zealand). Participants reproduced a previously presented angle of the elbow joint with their neck in 4 positions: neutral, flexion, rotation, and combined flexion/rotation. The experimental intervention was high-velocity, low-amplitude cervical adjustments, and the control intervention was a 5-minute rest period. Group JPS data were compared, and it was assessed pre and post interventions using 3 parameters: absolute, constant, and variable errors.

RESULTS:

At baseline, the control group was significantly better at reproducing the elbow target angle. The SCNP group's absolute error significantly improved after the cervical adjustments when the participants' heads were in the neutral and left-rotation positions. They displayed a significant overall decrease in variable error after the cervical adjustments. The control group participants' JPS accuracy was worse after the control intervention, with a significant overall effect in absolute and variable errors. No other significant effects were detected.

CONCLUSION:

These results suggest that asymptomatic people with a history of SCNP have reduced elbow JPS accuracy compared to those with no history of any neck complaints. Furthermore, the results suggest that adjusting dysfunctional cervical segments in people with SCNP can improve their upper limb JPS accuracy.

Comments (2)

David Elliott M-Chiro on Mar 18, '19

The world is full of people who refuse to believe anything about chiropractic with an almost religious zeal. I doubt Heidi’s work will sway these prejudices but for the rest of us this really does explain why some people respond so remarkably.

Others might wanting us to become treaters of conditions on the medical model. Chiropractic adjusts subluxations. The problems and symptoms will resolve from within.

I am a chiropractor and I regularly see these miracles from the man who no longer feels like he will accidentally roll out of bed to the lady with rheumatoid arthritis who says her fees have been the best value service she has ever bought for anything ever not just health related. She has got her life back. Her words, not mine

I am especially interested in viscero-somatic conditions like acid reflux or irritable bowel. Under graduate work has shown that neck dysfunction chiropractic has a role in these and that chiropractic was beneficial for 2/3 of the (small) groups studied.

Well done for all that you do and let me know how I can get access to the videos.

Johnk129 on Sep 2, '14

There is visibly a bunch to realize about this. I consider you made various good points in features also. agckceadgeed

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published