SPATIOTEMPORAL GAIT PARAMETERS, PELVIC MOVEMENTS AND PELVIC SYMMETRY DURING SINGLE AND DUAL TASK IN INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC IDIOPATHIC NECK PAIN

Purpose: Neck pain is associated with gait disturbances. The first aim of this study was to examine spatiotemporal gait parameters, pelvic movements and pelvic symmetry during single and dual task conditions in persons with CINP compared to healthy subjects (HS). The second aim was to investigate the relationship between disability and gait in persons with CINP.Methods: Thirty-one individuals with CINP (mean age 22.06±1.38 years, range 18-56 years) and 24 HS (mean age 22.60±1.51 years, range 18-43 years) participated in the study. CINP group completed Neck Disability Index. All participants performed 10-meter walking test in two conditions: (1) walking with head straight at usual speed, (2) walking with head straight at usual speed while carrying a tray. The BTS G-Walk wearable sensor was used to assess spatiotemporal parameters (speed, cadence, step length), pelvic movements (tilt, obliquity, rotation), and pelvic symmetry. Results: During single task gait, the CINP group had significantly lower walking speed, shorter stride length and worse pelvic tilt symmetry (p<0.05), but pelvic movements did not differ significantly according to the HS (p<0.05). During dual task condition, the CINP group had significantly lower cadence, gait speed and stride length, significantly increased pelvic movements and significantly worse pelvic rotation symmetry compared to HS (p<0.05). Conclusion: Patients with CINP had a slower gait, lower stride length, decreased pelvic symmetry and increased pelvic movements compared to HS. Differences in gait and pelvic movements between the two groups were more pronounced during the dual task gait than single task gait.