Comparison of head posture and neck proprioceptive sense of individuals with chronic neck pain and healthy controls: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Chronic pain can affect body perception at the central level by causing the somatosensory cortex to rearrange. Additionally, cervical afferent abnormalities in individuals with neck pain can impair proprioceptive sensitivity, potentially leading to alterations in body alignment and biomechanics. Nevertheless, there are insufficient studies exploring these notions.

Objective: The main objective of this study was to compare the head posture and neck proprioceptive sense of individuals with chronic neck pain and healthy controls.

Methods: Utilizing a cross-sectional study, a total of 76 volunteers comprising 38 individuals with neck pain and 38 matched healthy controls participated in the study. Head posture and cervical joint position sense were measured using a Cervical Range of Motion Deluxe (CROM) device. Firstly, the deviation angles of the head in three planes were evaluated, then the Head Repositioning Accuracy (HRA) test was performed to determine the joint position error. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to determine the severity of pain in individuals with neck pain.

Results: The deviation angles of the head in all three planes were significantly lower in the healthy control group (p< 0.05). Joint position error values were significantly higher in all directions (flexion-extension, right-left lateral flexion, and rotation) in the neck pain group (p< 0.001).

Conclusion: The findings show that the proprioceptive sensation of the cervical region in individuals with neck pain was adversely affected, with changes were observed in the head posture.

Note: The abstract of this study was presented as a verbal declaration at the International Congress of Health Sciences-ICHES-IDU 2020 that was held in İzmir on 20-21 June 2020.