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

Table 6 Correlations between clinical parameters and constructs of motor control and neck motion in neck pain patients (n = 75)

Variables	NPRS r	NDI r	Duration¹rho	TSK r
Neck flexibility
Flexion/extension	-0.36**	-0.10	-0.09	-0.11
Conjunct motion	-0.26*	0.05	-0.09	0.12
Peak velocity	-0.34**	-0.21	-0.14	0.231*
Proprioception
Joint position error	0.01	0.147	0.03	0.12
Head steadiness
INF low load	-0.1	-0.13	-0.11	-0.11
INF high load	0.05	-0.12	-0.05	-0.06
Trajectory movement control
PD FOE fast	0.18	0.09	-0.14	-0.02
PD Fly test²	0.19	0.27*	-0.21	-0.10
Postural sway
Area EOB	0.03	-0.04	0.14	-0.07

Clinical parameters are current neck pain measured by NRS, neck disability index (NDI), duration of current neck pain episode, and kinesiophobia measured by TSK. Given values are Pearson’s r for NRS, NDI and TSK and Spearman’s rho for duration with corresponding p-values. Correlation coefficients with p < 0.05 are in bold.
¹ Duration of pain, five categories from short to long duration of current neck pain.
² Fly test with easy pattern and small neck range of motion.
* = p value < 0.05. ** = p value < 0.01.
NRS = numerical rating scale. NDI = Neck Disability Index. TSK = Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia. INF = isometric neck flexion. PD = point deviation. FOE = figure-of-eight. EOB = eyes open balance pad.