Correlation between Deep Cervical Muscle Endurance, Cervical Proprioception, and Chronic Neck Pain: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Study

Abstract

The main aim of the study was to investigate the relationship among deep cervical muscle endurance, cervical proprioception, and chronic neck pain (CNP). Subjects with CNP (n=47) aged 20 to 45 years were recruited to the study. Cervical joint position sense error (JPSE), deep cervical flexor and extensor endurance, pain intensity and neck pain associated disability were investigated by using common clinical tests. The correlations between measured variables were assessed by Spearman correlation coefficients. Only extension cervical JPSE component showed significant fair correlation with pain (σ = 0.30, p = 0.040) and disability (σ = 0.39, p = 0.006). Both the cervical flexor and extensor muscle endurance were found to have no relationship with both pain and disability. There was no association between deep cervical muscle endurance and the cervical JPSE. But a significant fair correlation was noted between the cervical flexor and extensor muscle endurance capacity (σ = 0.38, p = 0.008). Deep cervical muscle endurance and cervical proprioception were weakly associated with CNP. Chronic neck pain might not influence neck muscle endurance and cervical proprioception. Muscle endurance capacity and proprioceptive functioning also seem to be irrelevant to each other in people with CNP.