Relationship of deep cervical flexor muscle endurance with neck position sense and body balance in non-specific chronic neck pain

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between deep neck flexor muscle endurance and neck position sense and body balance in nonspecific chronic neck pain and to compare the results with healthy individuals. Method: Thirty individuals were included in the nonspecific chronic neck pain group (CNPG) and 30 subjects were included in the healty control group (CG). Deep neck flexor muscle endurance was evaluated by cranio-cervical flexion test using pressure stabilizer feedback device. Neck position sense was evaluated for all joint range of motion using CROM apparatus. Balance were evaluated with the Computarized Balance Evaluation System. Results: According to the results of our study, in CNPG, there was a significant relationship between deep neck flexor muscle endurance with sway velocity on the foam surface with eyes closed in the "modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction Balance", sway velocity on the left foot with eyes open in the "Unilateral Stance Test", reaction time in left-front direction and maximum excursion in left-back direction in the "Limits of Stability Test", velocity result of the fast stage and average velocity results in left-right direction in the "Rhythmic Weight Shift Test" (p<0.05). There was no relationship between endurance and other parameters in CBAG, and no relationship between endurance and any parameter in CG (p>0.05). It was found that the difference between right and left with the eyes closed in the "Unilateral Stance Test" was more (p<0.05), reaction time result in the left direction was longer (p<0.01), the endpoint excursion result in the posterior direction was shorter in the "Limits of Stability Test" and velocity in the fast stage in the "Rhythmic Weight Shift Test" was less in CNPG compared to CG (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between CNPG and CG in other parameters (p>0.05). Conclusion: Deep neck flexor muscle endurance is not related with neck position sense, but related with some parameters of balance in nonspecific chronic neck pain. Endurance is not related to neck position sense and body balance in subjects without neck pain. Deep neck flexor muscle endurance and neck position sense were found to be similar in subjects with nonspecific chronic neck pain and subjects without neck pain, and their balance was different for some parameters. Key Words: Chronic neck pain, endurance, position sense, balance