Comparison and correlation of cervical proprioception and muscle endurance in general joint hypermobility participants with and without non-specific neck pain-a cross-sectional study

Ravi Shankar Reddy; Jaya Shanker Tedla; Mastour Saeed Alshahrani; Faisal Asiri; Venkata Nagaraj Kakaraparthi

doi:10.7717/peerj.13097

Comparison and correlation of cervical proprioception and muscle endurance in general joint hypermobility participants with and without non-specific neck pain-a cross-sectional study

PeerJ. 2022 Mar 11:10:e13097. doi: 10.7717/peerj.13097. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Ravi Shankar Reddy¹, Jaya Shanker Tedla¹, Mastour Saeed Alshahrani¹, Faisal Asiri¹, Venkata Nagaraj Kakaraparthi¹

Affiliation

¹ Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Aseer, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Background: Cervical proprioception and muscle endurance are essential for maintaining cervical functional joint stability. Proprioception and muscle endurance may be impaired in those with general joint hypermobility (GJH). Examining these aspects is crucial. This study's aims are to (1) compare the cervical joint position error (JPE) and muscle endurance holding capacities in GJH individuals with and without non-specific neck pain (NSNP) (2) to assess the relationship between hypermobility Beighton scores, cervical JPE's, and muscle endurance in GJH individuals with and without NSNP.

Methods: In this cross-sectional comparative study, 33 GJH participants with NSNP (mean age 21.7 ± 1.8 years) and 35 asymptomatic participants GJH (mean age 22.42 ± 1.7 years) participated. Beighton's score of ≥4 of 9 tests was used as criteria to diagnose GJH. Cervical JPEs were estimated in degrees using a cervical range of motion device, and muscle endurance (flexor and extensor) were estimated in seconds using a stopwatch.

Results: GJH participants with NSNP showed significantly larger cervical JPEs (p < 0.001) and decreased muscle endurance holding times (p < 0.001) compared to asymptomatic participants. Beighton hypermobility scores showed a significant moderate positive correlation with cervical JPEs (flexion: r = 0.43, p = 0.013), left rotation: r = 0.47, p = 0.005, right rotation: r = 0.57, p = 0.001) in NSNP individuals. Also, Beighton hypermobility scores showed a moderate negative correlation with muscle endurance in NSNP (flexor muscles: r = -0.40, p = 0.020, extensor muscles: r = -0.41, p = 0.020, and asymptomatic individuals (flexor muscles: -0.34, p = 0.045, extensor muscles: r = -0.45, p = 0.007).

Conclusion: GJH individuals with NSNP showed increased cervical JPEs and reduced muscle endurance compared to asymptomatic. Individuals with GJH with higher Beighton scores demonstrated increased cervical JPEs and reduced neck muscle endurance holding ability. In clinical practice, therapists should be aware of these findings, incorporate proprioceptive and muscle endurance assessments, and formulate rehabilitation strategies for NSNP individuals with GJM.

Keywords: Cervical muscle endurance; Hypermobility syndrome; Joint kinaesthesia; Joint position sense; Sensorimotor deficits.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
Joint Instability*
Muscle, Skeletal
Neck Pain* / diagnosis
Proprioception / physiology
Young Adult

Grants and funding

This study was funded by King Khalid University (Grant No: RGP. 2/40/42). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.