Kinematic cervical rotation performance in patients with acute non-specific neck pain during the DidRen test improves after manual mobilizations regardless of the painful spinal level

Abstract

\n Background: Evaluation of kinematic axial cervical rotation performance is of major importance in the context of studying sensorimotor control of the neck. However, studies are missing on acute neck pain, on the influence of the level of provocation of spinal pain, and on the potential benefits of manual therapy mobilizations. Methods: A non-randomized prospective trial with intervention assessed the influence of acute non-specific neck pain on kinematic parameters during a fast axial head rotation task standardized with the DidRen laser test device. First, we compared kinematic parameters between patients and healthy controls. Second, we assessed whether upper or lower spinal pain location influenced these kinematic parameters. Finally, we examined the short-term effect of passive cervical mobilizations in patients on these kinematic variables. Results: We observed that patients were significantly slower (total time) to perform the DidRen laser test (4.5 s; p<0.006) and to reach the end of rotation from peak acceleration (0.02 s; p<0.016). The time between peaks acceleration and deceleration (-0.03 s; p<0.003), the time to peak deceleration (0.004 s; p<0.003), to peak acceleration (0.04 s; p<0.001) and to peak speed (0.01 s; p<0.001), the average speed (7.2 °s-1; p<0.001), peak speed (21.7 °s-1; p<0.010), acceleration (143.5 °s-2; p<0.013) and deceleration (-193.1 °s-2; p<0.006) were significantly slower for patients compared to controls. No significant effect of spinal pain location was observed on kinematic variables. After the intervention, patients were faster for average speed (2.9 °s-1; p<0.02), peak speed (8.7 °s-1; p<0.011), peak deceleration (69.7 °s-2; p<0.007). Patients took less time to reach peak speed (0.01 s; p<0.033) and peak acceleration (0.01 s; p<0.028). They took also less time (-0.01 s; p<0.003) between peak acceleration and deceleration and to stabilize the laser into the target (0.12 s; p<0.026) and to perform the DidRen laser test (4 s; p<0.001). Conclusion: The DidRen laser test allowed to demonstrate significant differences in kinematic axial cervical rotation in patients suffering from acute non-specific neck pain compared to pain-free controls. No significant effect of spinal pain location was observed on kinematic variables. Pain reduction significantly improved the patients’ kinematic parameters.