Effects of neck pain on reaching overhead and reading: a case–control study of long and short neck flexion

Abstract

BackgroundReaching overhead and reading are tasks that many individuals encounter daily. The level of difficulty of these tasks increases if an individual has neck pain. This study determined the neck movement patterns during these two tasks by comparing neck flexion of individuals with and without neck pain.MethodsThis case control study used the portable video technology, Dartfish ProSuite 5.5 Video Software, to analyse neck flexion movement patterns. Healthy individuals and individuals with neck pain were videotaped while they completed two tasks: reaching overhead from a standing position and reading from a sitting position. A single position of interest was selected for analysis from both tasks. The degree of neck flexion presented by the participant in this position at the beginning and end of the task was recorded. The angle change between these two time points was calculated for each participant. Differences between groups were determined by comparing the average flexion angle changes in groups by t-tests.ResultsThe average angle change experienced by controls and neck pain participants during the overhead reaching tasks were very similar and a significant difference was not observed. The average angle changes experienced by the two groups during the reading task were more variable, but not significantly different. A t-test comparing average neck flexion angle change during dominant arm elevation for controls (m = −5.28˚, sd = 31.14) and neck pain participants (m = 5.07˚, sd = 32.41) revealed a mean between group difference of −10.34˚ (t17 = −0.688, p = 0.5003). The average neck flexion angle change during long neck flexion was not statistically different between controls (m = 10.08˚, sd = 18.89) and neck pain participants (m = 4˚, sd = 18.18); although the mean between group difference was 6.08˚ (t17 = 0.6856, p = 0.5022).ConclusionsTask performance is highly variable between individuals making it difficult to assess the impact of neck pain on small samples even with detailed motion analysis. Despite this, there was a difference in neck posture during reaching activities between controls and patients with neck pain. Neck pain can therefore influence the movement patterns used during daily activities. This has implications for primary and secondary prevention.

Backrest Shape Affects Head–Neck Alignment and Seated Pressure

“…To measure head-neck alignment, we recorded wheelchair seated posture in the sagittal plane from the side. Video images were analyzed using Dartfish (Dartfish Ltd., Switzerland), 2D motion analysis software used in basic and clinical research for postural assessment [28,29]. Retro-reflective markers 14 mm in diameter were placed on the outer canthus of the eye, the tragus of the ear, and the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra.…”

Clinical Management and Measurement of Upper Limb Disability in Neck Pain Patients

“…The findings of this study are consistent with those of other studies which used 1-kg hand weights when examining the functional capacity of the UL for patients with shoulder pathology or NS-NP (MacDermid et al 2007, Kumta et al 2012, Constand and MacDermid 2013. In their validation study, MacDermid et al (2007), developed the Functional Impairment Test-Hand, and Neck/Shoulder/Arm (FIT-HaNSA), a new PBOM for measuring the functional capacity of UL in patients with shoulder pathology.…”

“…In their case control study, Constand and MacDermid (2013) recruited 7 patients with NS-NP and 12 healthy subjects to investigate the level of difficulties patients with NS-NP may experience when performing reaching overhead and reading tasks. Participants in this study completed two tasks that incorporated different types of neck movement, reach overhead tasks to represent upper cervical motion and long neck flexion, and reading tasks to represent lower cervical spine motion.…”

“…However, the SAMP test is a performance-based and include tasks to evaluate the strength and endurance of the UL and women tend to have better muscle endurance than men since they generally take longer to fatigue (Cheng et al 2003). In addition, the findings of other studies which have used a1-kg weight when examining the functional capacity of the UL in patients with shoulder pathology or NS-NP indicate that a 1-kg hand weight was suitable for female as well as male patients with shoulder pathology or NS-NP (MacDermid et al 2007, Kumta et al 2012, Constand and MacDermid 2013.…”

Influence of back support shape in wheelchairs offering pelvic support on asymmetrical sitting posture and pressure points during reaching tasks in stroke patients

“…Body alignment data from the markers on video were analyzed using a two-dimensional motion analysis software (Dartfish, Fribourg, Switzerland) previously used in postural assessment basic and clinical studies [42,43]. The analyzer system's minimum angular resolution is 0.1˚and the minimum distance resolution is 1 cm.…”