Department of Health Science and Technology, Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI), Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7, Aalborg, Denmark.
Clin J Pain. 2011 May;27(4):309-14. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0b013e31820212cf.
This study evaluates the relationship between clinical symptoms and the function of the deep cervical flexor muscles in women with persistent neck pain.
Thirty-two women with a history of neck pain more than 6 months participated in the study. Measures for neck pain area, intensity, duration, and perceived disability were taken. Electromyography was acquired from the deep cervical flexor muscles by a nasopharyngeal electrode suctioned over the posterior oropharyngeal wall as the patients performed 2 tasks: rapid arm movements (shoulder flexion and extension) and isometric craniocervical flexion contractions.
The patients' average score for the Neck Disability Index (0 to 50) was 11.0±2.6 and their average pain intensity rated on a visual analog scale (0 to 10) was 4.7±1.8. A correlation was observed between the average intensity of pain rated on the visual analog scale and the normalized electromyography amplitude recorded from the deep cervical flexors during the craniocervical flexion contractions (r=-0.36; P<0.05). Furthermore, the relative onset of the deep cervical flexors during rapid shoulder flexion was positively correlated with the average intensity of pain (r=0.50; P<0.01). No significant correlations were identified between the amplitude and the onset of activation of the deep cervical flexors and the duration of pain, area of pain, or Neck Disability Index score of the patient.
This study shows a relationship between the levels of neck pain intensity and the function of the deep cervical flexor muscles in women with persistent neck pain but not in other clinical features, such as location or duration of the disorder. These findings may partially explain the heterogeneity in motor control impairments in patients with neck pain.
本研究评估了持续性颈痛女性的临床症状与深层颈屈肌功能之间的关系。
32 名颈痛病史超过 6 个月的女性参与了这项研究。测量了颈痛区域、强度、持续时间和感知障碍。通过鼻咽电极在咽后壁抽吸，对深层颈屈肌进行肌电图采集，患者在进行 2 项任务时：快速手臂运动（肩部屈伸）和等长头颈屈曲收缩。
患者的颈部残疾指数（0 至 50）平均评分为 11.0±2.6，视觉模拟评分（0 至 10）的平均疼痛强度评分为 4.7±1.8。视觉模拟评分的平均疼痛强度与头颈屈曲收缩期间从深层颈屈肌记录的归一化肌电图振幅之间存在相关性（r=-0.36；P<0.05）。此外，快速肩部伸展时深层颈屈肌的相对起始与平均疼痛强度呈正相关（r=0.50；P<0.01）。在深层颈屈肌的振幅和激活起始与疼痛持续时间、疼痛区域或患者的颈部残疾指数评分之间未发现显著相关性。
本研究表明，持续性颈痛女性的颈痛强度水平与深层颈屈肌功能之间存在关系，但与其他临床特征（如疾病的位置或持续时间）无关。这些发现可能部分解释了颈痛患者运动控制障碍的异质性。
