Neck pain is a significant societal burden due to its high prevalence and healthcare costs. While physical activity can help to manage other forms of chronic musculoskeletal pain, little data exists on the relationship between physical activity and neck pain. The purpose of this study was to compare physical activity levels between individuals with neck pain and healthy controls, and then to relate disability, fear of movement, and pain sensitivity measures to physical activity levels in each of the two participant groups. 21 participants were recruited for each of the two participant groups (n = 42). Data collection included the use of the Neck Disability Index, the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, electrocutaneous (Neurometer® CPT) and pressure stimulation (JTech algometer) for quantitative sensory testing, and 5 days of subjective (Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity) and objective (BioTrainer II) measurements of physical activity. Analysis of Variance and Pearson’s Correlation were used to determine if differences and relationships exist between dependent variables both within and between groups. The results show that individuals with mild neck pain and healthy controls do not differ in subjectively and objectively measured physical activity. While participants with neck pain reported higher neck disability and fear of movement, these factors did not significantly relate to physical activity levels. Perceived activity level was related to pain threshold and tolerance at local neck muscles sites (C2 paraspinal muscle and upper trapezius muscle), whereas measured activity was related to generalized pain sensitivity, as measured at the tibialis anterior muscle site.

Purpose: To describe the nature, extent, and impact of spasticity; determine factors that are perceived to influence its severity; and examine the relationship between time since diagnosis and impact of spasticity on daily activities in people with stroke and multiple sclerosis (MS) who are receiving botulinum toxin injection treatments. Methods: After a cross-sectional telephone survey, descriptive statistics and correlations were analyzed separately for the stroke and MS groups. Results: A total of 29 people with stroke and 10 with MS were surveyed. Both groups perceived increased spasticity with outdoor cold (69% stroke, 60% MS), muscle fatigue (59% stroke, 80% MS), and mental stress (59% stroke, 90% MS). No statistically significant correlations were found between time since diagnosis and perceived impact of spasticity on function in the stroke (r ¼ 0.07, p ¼ 0.37) or MS (r ¼ 0.16, p ¼ 0.33) groups. The MS group experienced bilateral and more severe perception of spasticity in the legs than the stroke group and identified more factors as worsening their spasticity (p < 0.05). Severity of leg (but not arm) spasticity was significantly correlated with severity of impact of the following factors in the MS group only: lying on the back (r ¼ 0.70, p < 0.05), outdoor heat (r ¼ 0.61, p < 0.05), and morning (r ¼ 0.59, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Intrinsic and extrinsic triggers can influence the perception of spasticity differently depending on individual factors, severity, location (arm vs. leg), and distribution of spasticity (unilateral vs. bilateral). Clinicians can use the findings to better understand, educate, and treat people with stroke and MS.Key Words: cold temperature; fatigue; muscle spasticity; multiple sclerosis; psychological stress; stroke; botulinum toxins. RÉ SUMÉObjet : Dé crire la nature, l'é tendue et l'effet de la spasticité ; dé terminer les facteurs qui, croit-on, ont un effet sur sa gravité ; examiner le lien entre le temps é coulé depuis le diagnostic et l'effet de la spasticité sur les activité s quotidiennes chez des personnes qui avaient subi un accident vasculaire cé ré bral et chez d'autres qui avaient la sclé rose en plaques (SP) et qui reç oivent des traitements par injection de toxine botulique. Mé thodes : À la suite d'un sondage té lé phonique transversal, on a analysé des statistiques descriptives et des corré lations sé paré ment pour les patients qui avaient subi un accident vasculaire cé ré bral et ceux qui avaient la SP. Ré sultats : Au total, on a sondé 29 personnes victimes d'un accident vasculaire cé ré bral et 10 autres qui avaient la SP. Les deux groupes ont perc¸u une spasticité accrue par temps froid à l'exté rieur (69 % accident vasculaire cé ré bral, 60 % SP), de la fatigue musculaire (59 % accident vasculaire cé ré bral, 80 % SP) et du stress mental (59 % accident vasculaire cé ré bral, 90 % SP). On n'a constaté aucune corré lation statistiquement significative entre le temps é coulé depuis le diagnostic et l'effet perc¸u de la spasticité sur le fonctionnement c...

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