Manual therapy
-
The craniocervical flexion test assesses the deep cervical flexor muscles (longus capitis, longus colli). Ideally, electromyography (EMG) studies measure activity in both deep and superficial (sternocleidomastoid, anterior scalene) flexors during the test, but most studies confine recordings to superficial muscle activity as the technique to record the deep muscles is invasive. Higher activity of the superficial flexors has been interpreted as an indicator of reduced deep flexor activity in people with neck pain but how close the inverse relationship is during this test is unknown. ⋯ The results affirm the interpretation that higher levels of activity of the superficial flexor muscles are an indicator of reduced deep cervical flexor activity in the craniocervical flexion test. Further studies of neuromuscular and movement strategies used by people with neck pain to compensate for poorer activation of the deep cervical flexors will inform best clinical assessment.
-
Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD) grade II are the most prevalent group of whiplash patients seen on a regular basis by musculoskeletal physiotherapists. Impairment of vibration sensibility may be an early indicator of nerve pathology and it has previously been demonstrated in individuals with chronic WAD symptoms utilising vibrameters. A less expensive option, such the tuning fork (TF) may assist with these measures, but research regarding its measurement properties is lacking. ⋯ Almost perfect reliability scores across intra- and inter-rater reliability were found. This provides evidence that, with a standardised testing protocol the TF can be a highly reliable means of vibration sensibility testing. Future studies assessing the validity of the TF in different WAD populations may provide further information about the usefulness of this protocol.