Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC.
J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2010 Oct;20(5):1014-20. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2009.11.002. Epub 2009 Dec 11.
The head reposition test is traditionally used to examine the proprioceptive sensitivity of the neck. The aim of this study was to investigate the position accuracy and corresponding cervical electromyographic (EMG) responses of the neck pain subjects during sagittal head-to-neutral tasks. Twelve young subjects with chronic neck pain and twelve young healthy subjects were recruited. The position accuracy was measured by the constant error, variable error, and root mean square error of joint angles during head-to-neutral tasks in flexion and extension directions. Surface EMG of neck flexors and extensors were analyzed by the voluntary response index, including the similarity index (SI) and electromyographic magnitude (MAG) of muscle groups. The normalized average integration of EMG activity (NAIEMG) of individual muscle was also calculated. The results showed: (1) significantly larger constant error and root mean square error but similar variable error in patients compared with controls, (2) smaller SI but similar MAG in patients compared with controls, (3) greater synergistic/antagonistic NAIEMG in patients than controls. The findings suggested that young adults with chronic neck pain exhibit proprioceptive dysfunction and altered EMG pattern during voluntary sagittal neck motions. This study provides guidelines which could lead to the development of therapeutic exercise programs.
头重定位测试传统上用于检查颈部的本体感觉敏感性。本研究旨在研究颈痛患者在矢状面头中立位任务中颈部的位置准确性和相应的颈肌肌电图（EMG）反应。招募了 12 名慢性颈痛的年轻受试者和 12 名年轻健康受试者。通过在屈伸方向的头中立位任务中测量关节角度的恒定误差、变量误差和均方根误差来测量位置准确性。通过自愿反应指数分析颈屈肌和伸肌的表面肌电图，包括肌肉群的相似指数（SI）和肌电图幅度（MAG）。还计算了个体肌肉的肌电图活动归一化平均积分（NAIEMG）。结果表明：（1）与对照组相比，患者的恒定误差和均方根误差明显较大，但变量误差相似；（2）与对照组相比，患者的 SI 较小，但 MAG 相似；（3）与对照组相比，患者的协同/拮抗 NAIEMG 更大。研究结果表明，慢性颈痛的年轻成年人在自愿矢状面颈部运动中表现出本体感觉功能障碍和改变的 EMG 模式。本研究为治疗性运动方案的制定提供了指导。
