Comparison of the sagittal distance of cervical protraction and retraction ratio between females with and without neck pain

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Head excursion (HE) is a clinical tool used to assess neck pain. Although many clinicians use head retraction (HR) exercises to treat neck pain, studies investigating whether head protraction (HP) and HR differ between individuals with and without neck pain are lacking. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the differences in the sagittal distances of the HP, HR, HE, and protraction-to-retraction (PR) ratio, measured in a zero-starting position, in females with and without neck pain. METHODS: Fifty females (25 with neck pain and 25 without neck pain) participated in this study. We separately recorded videos of the sagittal movement of the HP and HR in a zero-starting position and analyzed them using the Kinovea software. An independent t-test was used to compare HP, HR, HE, and PR ratio between the two groups. RESULTS: Individuals with neck pain had a significantly decreased HR (2.73 ± 1.08 cm) and an increased PR ratio (2.22 ± 0.75) compared with asymptomatic individuals. However, there were no significant differences in HP or HE between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The sagittal distance of the HR and PR ratio should be considered when evaluating and treating patients with neck pain