Evidence for a general stiffening motor control pattern in neck pain: a cross sectional study

Table 5 Summary of main results

	Indicate less motion	Normal	Indicate larger motion	Effect size Mean (95 % CI)
Neck flexibility
Flexion/extension ¹	X			0.84 (0.52 to 1.16)*
CM³	X			0.37 (0.06 to 0.68)*
Peak velocity²	X			1.05 (0.72 to 1.37)*
Rotation ¹	X			0.72 (0.41 to 1.04)*
CM³	X			0.36 (0.05 to 0.67)*
Peak velocity²	X			0.90 (0.57 to 1.22)*
Lateral flexion ¹		X		0.30 (-0.01 to 0.61)
CM³		X		0.19 (-0.11 to 0.50)
Peak velocity²	X			1.08 (0.75 to 1.41)*
Total cervical ROM ¹	X			0.76 (0.44 to 1.08)*
Proprioception
JPE²		X		-0.26 (-0.56 to 0.05)
Head steadiness
Low load¹	X			1.29 (0.95 to 1.63)*
High Load¹	X			1.95 (1.58 to 2.32)*
Trajectory movement control
FOE low speed¹		X		0.22 (-0.09 to 0.53)
FOE high sped¹	X			0.45 (0.13 to 0.76)*
FOE standing¹	X			0.40 (0.09 to 0.71)*
Fly test 1A¹	X			0.36 (0.05 to 0.68)*
Fly test 1B¹		X		0.07 (-0.23 to 0.38
Fly test 2A¹		X		0.16 (-0.15 to 0.47)
Fly test 2B¹		X		-0.07 (-0.39 to 0.24)
Postural sway
Open eyes¹		X		-0.09 (-0.40 to 0.21)
Closed eyes¹		X		-0.26 (-0.57 to 0.06)
Balance pad¹			X	-0.64 (-0.95 to -0.32)*
FOE standing¹		X		0.30 (-0.07 to 0.66)

Effect sizes for each variable with 95% CI are listed below.
Interpretation of the effect size: 0.2 = small, 0.5 = medium, >0.8 = large.
Negative or positive effect sizes indicate that the NP group has larger or smaller values, respectively, compared to HC. Statistically significant and effect sizes >0.5 are marked with * and bold numbers, respectively.
¹ Adjusted for age and gender (model 1).
² Adjusted for age, gender, and cervical ROM (model 2).
³ Adjusted for age, gender, cervical ROM, and peak velocity (model 3).
* = p value <0.05.
ROM = range of motion. CM = conjunct motion in the two accessory movement planes. JPE = joint position error. INF = isometric neck flexion. FOE = figure of eight. 1A = easy pattern, small ROM. 1B = easy pattern, large ROM. 2A = difficult pattern, small ROM. 2B = difficult pattern, large ROM. EO = eyes open. EC = eyes closed. EOB = eyes open balance pad.

ISSN: 1471-2474