Women with mechanical neck pain exhibit increased activation of their superficial neck extensors when performing the cranio-cervical flexion test

• Published in: Musculoskeletal science & practice 2020-10, Vol.49, p.102222-102222, Article 102222
• Main Authors: Bonilla-Barba, Laura, Florencio, Lidiane Lima, Rodríguez-Jiménez, Jorge, Falla, Deborah, Fernández-de-las-Peñas, César, Ortega-Santiago, Ricardo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cervical spine; Cranio-cervical flexion test; Electromyography; Neck pain
• ISSN: 2468-7812; 2468-7812
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msksp.2020.102222

Several studies have analysed the activity of superficial neck flexors, but the activity of neck extensors has been less investigated in patients with neck pain 1, to investigate the differences in the activation of superficial neck flexor and extensor musculature during the cranio-cervical flexion test (CCFT) in women with mechanical chronic neck pain when compared to asymptomatic women; 2, to investigate the correlation between neck muscle activity and the clinical features of neck pain Cross-sectional Surface electromyography was recorded bilaterally from the sternocleidomastoid, anterior scalene, splenius capitis, and upper trapezius muscles of 30 women with mechanical chronic neck pain and 30 asymptomatic women as they performed the CCFT. Comparisons of the normalized root mean square between both groups were conducted with 2x5 ANCOVA with task level as the within-subjects variable, group as the between-subjects variable, and pain related-disability as a co-variate Women with mechanical neck pain exhibited increased activity of superficial neck flexors (sternocleidomastoid: F = 14.448, P