Asymmetry of neck motion and activation of the cervical paraspinal muscles during prone neck extension in subjects with unilateral posterior neck pain

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Although unilateral posterior neck pain (UPNP) is more prevalent than central neck pain, little is known about how UPNP affects neck motion and the muscle activation pattern during prone neck extension.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate whether deviation in neck motion and asymmetry of activation of the bilateral cervical paraspinal muscles occur during prone neck extension in subjects with UPNP compared to subjects without UPNP.

METHODS:

This study recruited 20 subjects with UPNP and 20 age- and sex-matched control subjects without such pain. Neck motion and muscle onset time during prone neck extension were measured using a three-dimensional motion-analysis system and surface electromyography.

RESULTS:

The deviation during prone neck extension was greater in the UPNP group than in the controls (p < 0.05). Compared with the controls, cervical extensor muscle activation in the UPNP group was significantly delayed on the painful side during prone neck extension (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

Subjects with UPNP showed greater asymmetry of neck motion and muscle activation during prone neck extension compared with the controls. This suggests that UPNP has specific effects on neck motion asymmetry and the functions of the cervical extensors, triggering a need for specific evaluation and exercises in the management of patients with UPNP.