Cervicocephalic Kinaesthesia in Subjects with and without Peripherally Induced Pain

Abstract Objectives: Studies of patients with chronic degenerative neck pain and of those with chronic whiplash–associated disorders have identified a cervicocephalic kinaesthesia [CK] deficit compared to healthy controls. Up until now, it remains unknown if this deficit in CK is caused by neck pain–induced concentration deficits or by functional neck disorders itself. The purpose of this study was to investigate if there is a negative influence on the CK by inducing an experimental peripheral pain stimulus. Methods: A prospective diagnostic study including 21 males and 29 females was performed. The subjects were placed in a virtual reality system by using a head mounted display and were asked to follow a moving globe. The deviation between the expected and the documented head position was recorded under static and dynamic conditions. The subjects were investigated in a cross-over design. There was on each of the two days a measurement free from pain and a measurement with a peripheral-induced pain stimulus. Results: There were no significant differences concerning the static and dynamic joint repositioning error on both measurements. Furthermore, the interindividual analysis shows no trend between the measurements with and without the pain stimulus. Conclusions: In summary, it could be found that a peripheral-induced pain stimulus did not affect the CK of the cervical spine.