Fig. 1
Flow chart. Inclusion of 38 Patients (ANSP) and 42 Controls (HCP) with the three aims of the study presented: Reliability (test-retest reliability of kinematic variables), Validity (differences in kinematic variables between HCP and ANSP (upper vs lower spine pain localization: based on the manual examination, 38 ANSP were assigned to either the upper (C0-C2; n=17) or lower (C3 to C7; n=21) spine pain group)), and Intervention (effect of manual therapeutic interventions on kinematic variables assessed between the first and second DidRen laser tests). For blinding reasons, a first examiner supervised the completion of the questionnaires, the DidRen laser test, and the active cervical spine rotation test (range of motion). The questionnaires included the Neck Disability Index (NDI), the French version of the Bournemouth questionnaire (BQ), the Tampa scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) (except for HCP), and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). A second examiner performed the cervical spine manual examination and the passive manual therapy mobilization sessions. Based on the manual examination, 12 HCP who experienced pain were excluded from the study; 42 HCP were then included