Ravi Shankar Reddy

Intra- and inter-rater reliability of neutral head position and target head position tests in patients with and without neck pain

Highlights • Neutral head and target head position tests evaluate cervical proprioception.• Clinics commonly use those position tests, and it is important to test their reliability.• Intra- and inter-rater reliability was moderate to high for these tests.

Hand grip strength determination for healthy males in Saudi Arabia: A study of the relationship with age, body mass index, hand length and forearm circumference using a hand-held dynamometer

Objectives To determine whether age, body mass index (BMI), hand length and forearm circumference were predictive of hand grip strength in healthy Saudi Arabian adult males. Methods This cross-sectional descriptive study recruited healthy adult male volunteers. Their anthropometric characteristics including age, BMI, hand length and forearm circumference were measured using routine techniques. Hand grip strength was assessed using a Jamar® Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer. The data were analysed using Pearson correlation coefficient (r) as well as by a stepwise multiple linear regression analysis. Results The study included 116 healthy males who satisfied the inclusion criteria. A Pearson correlation coefficient matrix demonstrated that all the four measures, age, BMI, hand length and forearm circumference, were significantly correlated with hand grip strength. Age had an inverse correlation with hand grip strength. The anthropometric measures of hand length, age and forearm circumference accounted for 44.2% (R2 0.442) of the variation of the hand grip strength. Conclusion Hand length, age and forearm circumference significantly impacted on hand grip strength in Saudi Arabian healthy adult males.

Influence of chronic neck pain on cervical joint position error (JPE): Comparison between young and elderly subjects

BACKGROUND Evaluation of cervical joint position sense in subjects with chronic neck pain has gained importance in recent times. Different authors have established increased joint position error (JPE) in subjects with acute neck pain. However, there is a paucity of studies to establish the influence of chronic neck pain on cervical JPE. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to understand the influence of chronic neck pain on cervical JPE, and to examine the differences in cervical JPE between young and elderly subjects with chronic neck pain. METHODS Forty-two chronic neck pain patients (mean age 47.4) were compared for cervical JPE with 42 age-matched healthy subjects (mean age 47.8), using a digital inclinometer. The cervical JPE were measured in flexion, extension, and rotation in right and left movement directions. RESULTS The comparison of JPE showed significantly larger errors in subjects with chronic neck pain when compared to healthy subjects (p< 0.001). The errors were larger in all of the movement directions tested. Comparison between young and older subjects with chronic neck pain revealed no significant differences (P> 0.05) in cervical JPE. CONCLUSIONS Cervical joint position sense is impaired in subjects with chronic neck pain.

Comparison of two walk tests in determining the claudication distance in patients suffering from peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the six-minute walk test (6MWT) and the incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) in terms of the initial onset of pain (IOP), maximal claudicating pain (MCP), maximum walking distance (MWD), initial ankle brachial index (IABI), post ankle brachial index (PABI), and difference in ankle brachial index (DFABI), as well as to correlate changes in IOP and MWD, MCP and MWD, IABI and MWD, PABI and MWD, and DFABI and MWD in the 6MWT and ISWT. Materials and Methods: Participants (n = 19, 17 men and 2 women) were randomly allocated to the 6MWT or ISWT and crossed over to the other test after 24 hours. The baseline ankle brachial index (ABI) measurements were taken using the Doppler, following which the participants performed the tests. Post-test MWD, IOP, MCP, and ABI were measured. The paired t test was used pre- and post the walk test and the Pearson correlation was used to find any relationship between the desired variables. Results: The paired t test at 95% confidence interval for IABI and PABI (P > 0.05) was insignificant for the 6MWT and ISWT. The Pearson correlation of MWD with IOP showed a fair correlation, and the correlation of MWD to MCP showed a strong correlation in ISWT. Conclusion: ISWT can be of vital importance as a tool to assess the functional status of patients suffering from Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease (PAOD) in both the clinical and research areas, and reflects a better assessment of the functional limitation when walking with PAOD as compared to the 6MWT.

Mediating role of body mass index in knee osteoarthritis

Objective This study explores the role of knee circumference, body mass index (BMI), and range of motion (ROM) in predicting knee osteoarthritis (KOA). The objective is to elucidate the mediating role of BMI in influencing the relationship between age, knee circumference and pain in knee osteoarthritis, as measured with the help of the knee outcome survey (KOS) questionnaire. Methods The design used in this study was causal comparative. The study consisted of 66 patients with symptomatic KOA and 60 matched asymptomatic individuals. Result BMI was significantly and positively correlated with both pain and knee girth for the symptomatic KOA group. This finding signifies a relationship between KOA and other indicators, such as age and knee circumference. Conclusions The results of the study would indicate an important milestone in clinical rehabilitation, especially for physical therapists, enabling them to plan, modify, and design interventions to improve the health status of KOA patients.

Association of age on cervical joint position error

Graphical abstract

Test-retest reliability of assessing cervical proprioception using cervical range of motion device

Background: Cervical proprioception plays an important role in the stability and optimal functional of the cervical spine and assessment of cervical proprioception is integral in the assessment and management of cervical spine dysfunction. Cervical range of motion (CROM) device is an effective tool, simple and cost effective tool to assess cervical proprioception. The objective of the study was to establish the test-retest reliability of a CROM in assessing cervical proprioception in asymptomatic individuals. Methods: Twenty healthy adults (mean age 37±8 years) were recruited and test retest reliability of CROM device in assessing cervical proprioception was assessed. Cervico-cephalic kinaesthetic sensibility tests - Neutral Head Positioning (NHP) and Target head Positioning (THP) tests were used to assess cervical proprioception. The test retest reliability was assessed in 2 sessions each session is separated with the other by 48 hours. Results: The test-retest reliability of measurements made with the CROM was verified with ICC values for all cervical measurements ranging between 0.66 (CI: 0.1, 0.8) for Target Head Position – rotation right to 0.93 (0.8, 0.9) (CI: 0.8-0.9) for THP – Rotation right. The correlation analysis found there are high and significant correlations between the test and retest results indicating that the reliability of the test can be established (positive correlation coefficients ranging from 0.524 – 0.863). Conclusion: CROM device can be used to quantify cervical proprioception errors with acceptable level of reliability in asymptomatic individuals.

Cervical proprioception evaluation using cervical range of motion device: A narrative review

Cervical proprioception is very important for optimal neck performance in sports. Cervical muscles have numerous connections with vestibular, visual and higher centres and interactions with these can produce effective proprioceptive input. Dysfunction of cervical proprioception because of different sports injuries need to be evaluated. Common tests used in the evaluation of cervical proprioception include head reposition accuracy (HRA) tests. HRA tests commonly undertaken are repositioning to the neutral head position and repositioning into target head position. Cervical range of motion device is an effective, easy and convenient tool to measure cervical proprioception. This information should assist sports physiotherapists and health care providers who deal with cervical injuries in sports or any neck conditions.