The effect of a 3 minute static posture on cervical spine position sense in asymptomatic participants

Abstract

Alteration to cervical spine position sense has been associated with symptomatic subjects experiencing whiplash, whiplash associated disorders (WAD) and chronic neck pain, however, there has been little investigation into cervical spine position sense in asymptomatic subjects. The aim of the current study was to investigate cervical position sense before and after a 3 minute static posture (flexion or extension) in asymptomatic subjects. This dissertation is comprised of two main sections; a literature review followed by a manuscript for a research report that has been prepared in accordance with submission requirements for Manual Therapy. For the main study, 32 asymptomatic subjects undertook two position sense tests; the neutral head position and target head position tests in the sagittal and transverse planes, before and after a 3 minute static posture in either flexion or extension. Absolute errors were calculated from data recorded by an orientation sensor. The effect sizes, calculated from the Wilcoxon Z values pre and post the intervention, were ‘trivial’ for the two position sense tests after either the flexion or extension intervention. The results indicate no substantial differences in cervical position sense before and after a 3 minute static posture, in either flexion or extension, on asymptomatic subjects.