Evaluating Muscle Function Tests for Neck Pain
Author Information
Author(s): Chantal HP de Koning, Sylvia P van den Heuvel, J Bart Staal, Bouwien CM Smits-Engelsman, Erik JM Hendriks
Primary Institution: Avans+, University for Professionals, Breda, the Netherlands
Hypothesis
The study aims to analyze the clinimetric properties of tests measuring neck muscle strength and endurance in patients with non-specific neck pain.
Conclusion
The endurance test for short neck flexors and the cervical PILE test are suitable for measuring neck muscle function in patients with non-specific neck pain.
Supporting Evidence
- The endurance test for short neck flexors showed acceptable reliability.
- The cervical PILE test was recommended for measuring muscle endurance.
- Many studies had methodological flaws, including small sample sizes.
Takeaway
This study looked at different tests to see which ones work best for measuring neck muscle strength in people with neck pain. It found that some tests are better than others.
Methodology
A systematic review of studies published between 1980 and January 2007 was conducted, assessing the clinimetric properties of various measurement methods for neck muscle function.
Potential Biases
Reviewer bias could have affected internal validity due to lack of blinding.
Limitations
The review included only studies in English or Dutch, and many studies had small sample sizes and insufficient methodological details.
Participant Demographics
The studies included both healthy subjects and patients with neck pain, but many did not specify inclusion or exclusion criteria.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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