Extension and flexion in the upper cervical spine in neck pain patients

Ernst, Markus J.; Crawford, Rebecca J.; Schelldorfer, Sarah; Rausch Osthoff, Anne-Kathrin; Barbero, Marco; Kool, Jan; Bauer, Christoph M.

doi:10.21256/zhaw-2042

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2042

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	Extension and flexion in the upper cervical spine in neck pain patients
Authors:	Ernst, Markus J. Crawford, Rebecca J. Schelldorfer, Sarah Rausch Osthoff, Anne-Kathrin Barbero, Marco Kool, Jan Bauer, Christoph M.
DOI:	10.21256/zhaw-2042 10.1016/j.math.2014.12.005
Published in:	Manual Therapy
Volume(Issue):	20
Issue:	4
Page(s):	547
Pages to:	552
Issue Date:	2015
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Elsevier
ISSN:	1356-689X 1532-2769
Language:	English
Subjects:	Disability; Headache; Neck pain; Range of motion; Upper cervical spine; Adult; Biomechanical Phenomena; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Manipulation, Spinal; Middle Aged; Neck Pain; Pain Measurement; Range of Motion, Articular; Cervical Vertebrae
Subject (DDC):	615.82: Physical therapy 617.5: Orthopaedic surgery
Abstract:	Neck pain is a common problem in the general population with high risk of ongoing complaints or relapses. Range of motion (ROM) assessment is scientifically established in the clinical process of diagnosis, prognosis and outcome evaluation in neck pain. Anatomically, the cervical spine (CS) has been considered in two regions, the upper and lower CS. Disorders like cervicogenic headache have been clinically associated with dysfunctions of the upper CS (UCS), yet ROM tests and measurements are typically conducted on the whole CS. A cross-sectional study assessing 19 subjects with non-specific neck pain was undertaken to examine UCS extension-flexion ROM in relation to self-reported disability and pain (via the Neck Disability Index (NDI)). Two measurement devices (goniometer and electromagnetic tracking) were employed and compared. Correlations between ROM and the NDI were stronger for the UCS compared to the CS, with the strongest correlation between UCS flexion and the NDI-headache (r = -0.62). Correlations between UCS and CS ROM were fair to moderate, with the strongest correlation between UCS flexion and CS extension ROM (r = -0.49). UCS flexion restriction is related to headache frequency and intensity. Consistency and agreement between both measurement systems and for all tests was high. The results demonstrate that separate UCS ROM assessments for extension and flexion are useful in patients with neck pain.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/8425
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	School of Health Sciences
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Gesundheit

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Ernst, M. J., Crawford, R. J., Schelldorfer, S., Rausch Osthoff, A.-K., Barbero, M., Kool, J., & Bauer, C. M. (2015). Extension and flexion in the upper cervical spine in neck pain patients. Manual Therapy, 20(4), 547–552. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2042

Ernst, M.J. et al. (2015) ‘Extension and flexion in the upper cervical spine in neck pain patients’, Manual Therapy, 20(4), pp. 547–552. Available at: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2042.

M. J. Ernst et al., “Extension and flexion in the upper cervical spine in neck pain patients,” Manual Therapy, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 547–552, 2015, doi: 10.21256/zhaw-2042.

ERNST, Markus J., Rebecca J. CRAWFORD, Sarah SCHELLDORFER, Anne-Kathrin RAUSCH OSTHOFF, Marco BARBERO, Jan KOOL und Christoph M. BAUER, 2015. Extension and flexion in the upper cervical spine in neck pain patients. Manual Therapy. 2015. Bd. 20, Nr. 4, S. 547–552. DOI 10.21256/zhaw-2042

Ernst, Markus J., Rebecca J. Crawford, Sarah Schelldorfer, Anne-Kathrin Rausch Osthoff, Marco Barbero, Jan Kool, and Christoph M. Bauer. 2015. “Extension and Flexion in the Upper Cervical Spine in Neck Pain Patients.” Manual Therapy 20 (4): 547–52. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2042.

Ernst, Markus J., et al. “Extension and Flexion in the Upper Cervical Spine in Neck Pain Patients.” Manual Therapy, vol. 20, no. 4, 2015, pp. 547–52, https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2042.