Ylinen Jari, Takala Esa-Pekka, Kautiainen Hannu, Nykänen Matti, Häkkinen Arja, Pohjolainen Timo, Karppi Sirkka-Liisa, Airaksinen Olavi
Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Jyväskylä Central Hospital, Keskussairaalantie 19, 40620 Jyväskylä, Finland.
Eur J Pain. 2004 Oct;8(5):473-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpain.2003.11.005.
Several studies have reported lower neck muscle strength in patients with chronic neck pain compared to healthy controls. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between the severity of neck pain and disability with neck strength and range of movement in women suffering from chronic neck pain. One hundred and seventy-nine female office workers with chronic neck pain were selected to the study. The outcome was assessed by the self-rating questionnaires on neck pain (visual analogue scale, Vernon's disability index, Neck pain and disability index) and by measures of the passive range of movement (ROM) and maximal isometric neck muscle strength. No statistically significant correlation was found between perceived neck pain and the disability indices and the maximal isometric neck strength and ROM measures. However, the pain values reported during the strength tests were inversely correlated with the results of strength tests (r=-0.24 to -0.46), showing that pain was associated with decreased force production. About two-thirds of the patients felt pain during test efforts. Pain may prevent full effort during strength tests and hence the production of maximal force. Thus in patients with chronic neck pain the results do not always describe true maximal strength, but rather the patients' ability to bear strain, which may be considerably influenced by their painful condition. The results of the present study suggest that rehabilitation in cases of chronic neck pain should aim at raising tolerance to mechanical strain.
多项研究报告称，与健康对照组相比，慢性颈痛患者的颈部肌肉力量较低。本研究的目的是评估慢性颈痛女性患者的颈痛严重程度和残疾程度与颈部力量及活动范围之间的关联。179名患有慢性颈痛的女性办公室职员被选入该研究。通过颈痛自评问卷（视觉模拟量表、弗农残疾指数、颈痛和残疾指数）以及被动活动范围（ROM）测量和最大等长颈部肌肉力量测量来评估结果。在感知到的颈痛与残疾指数以及最大等长颈部力量和ROM测量之间未发现统计学上的显著相关性。然而，力量测试期间报告的疼痛值与力量测试结果呈负相关（r = -0.24至-0.46），表明疼痛与力量产生减少有关。约三分之二的患者在测试用力时感到疼痛。疼痛可能会妨碍力量测试期间的全力施力，从而影响最大力量的产生。因此，在慢性颈痛患者中，测试结果并不总是能描述真正的最大力量，而是患者承受压力的能力，这可能会受到其疼痛状况的显著影响。本研究结果表明，慢性颈痛病例的康复应旨在提高对机械应变的耐受性。
