Endurance and fatigue characteristics of static test of the neck muscles in patients with cervical radiculopathy

• INTRODUCTION: Neck muscle function is important for support and control of the cervical spine. With the application of frequency analysis of the electromyography (EMG) signal, the fatigue rate of muscles can be monitored. In several EMG studies, the neck muscles have been shown to fatigue faster in subjects with neck pain. This can be seen when the median frequency (MF) decreases when a contraction is sustained.AIM: In this experimental study the purpose was to evaluate patients with cervical radiculopathy compared to healthy subjects regarding changes in neckZmuscle fatigue during static endurance test in prone and supine.METHODS: A total of 33 patients (19 women and 14 men) with cervical radiculopathy and 28 healthy subjects (17 women and 11 men) were included in the study. Neck muscle fatigue was studied using EMG with surface electrodes bilaterally on cervical paraspinal and sternocleidomastoid muscle groups with electrode placement according to SENIAM. Measurements of neck muscle fatigue were performed in supine and prone positions until patient perceived time till exhaustion. Subjective neck muscle fatigue was rated on a Borg CRZ10 scale while subjective neck pain was measured on 0Z10 Visual analogue scale (VAS). Patients with cervical radiculopathy even completed the Neck Disability Index (NDI).RESULTS: The mean endurance time during static extension between groups was significantly different (p<0.001) with cervical radiculopathy patients recording 190 seconds (Sd=119) and the healthy subjects 509 seconds (Sd=213). Differences in mean endurance time during static flexion between groups were nonZsignificant with cervical radiculopathy patients recording 64 seconds (Sd=40) and the healthy subjects 96 seconds (Sd=69). Cervical radiculopathy patients MF EMG slope (Z0.039) for the right cervical paraspinal muscles significantly decreased (p=0.009) more the healthy subjects (Z0.017) during the extension test. NDI significantly correlated with MF EMG slope for both left (r=Z0.631 p= 0.001) and right side (r=Z0Z496 p=0.014) cervical paraspinal muscles during extension for the patient group.CONCLUSION:  Patients with cervical radiculopathy perform similar to healthy subjects with regards to static supine flexion endurance time and cervical muscle fatigue. Patients with cervical radiculopathy however have significantly lower endurance times and fatigue faster in the right side cervical paraspinal muscles during static prone extension.ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The present study was supported by funds from Karolinska Institute.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Sjukgymnastik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Physiotherapy (hsv//eng)

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