AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE EFFECTS OF FATIGUE PROTOCOL ON GAIT SPATIOTEMPORAL CHARACTERISTICS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC NECK PAIN

Abstract

PURPOSE: The studies have shown that chronic neck pain(CNP) may lead to problems, such as functional limitations,disability,general fatigue.General fatigue changes the discharge of receptors, such as muscle spindles,golgi tendon organ, and postural orientation deteriorated by the alteration of proprioception.Gait is an important phenomenon in providing,maintaining postural orientation. Fatigue affects daily living activities and it is important to investigate the effects of fatigue on walking in patients identified with a subjective certain level of fatigue rather than for a certain period.Although there is a lacking area in fatigue and walking studies in these patients in the literature.The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of fatigue protocol on gait spatiotemporal characteristics in patients with CNP. METHODS: Forty-three patients with CNP, twenty-six healthy controls enrolled to the study.Pain severity,disability were evaluated with Visual Analog Scale,Neck Disability Index, respectively. Gait assessment was recorded with OptoGait (Version 1.6.4.0,Microgate,Bolzano,Italy) for one minute while individuals walked their preferred speed on the treadmill. Individuals keep walking on treadmill and their fatigue levels asked for Modified Borg Scale.While their fatigue reached 4 point, gait assessment recorded during one minute.Wilcoxon test and ANCOVA statistics were applied within and between groups, respectively. RESULTS: The average pain severity was 6.2±3.05, disability level was moderate level in patients. There were negative correlations between pain severity and fatigue threshold(p