Rigidez cervical y dolor crónico cervical no específico / Comparison of cervical spine stiffness in individuals with chronic nonspecific neck pain and asymptomatic individuals

Fuente
Este artículo es originalmente publicado en:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25627153
http://www.anatomia-fisioterapia.es/36-systems/musculoskeletal/spine/cervical/1071-rigidez-cervical-y-dolor-cronico-cervical-no-especifico
De:
Ingram LA1, Snodgrass SJ, Rivett DA.
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2015 Mar;45(3):162-9. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2015.5711. Epub 2015 Jan 27.
Todos los derechos reservados para:
©2015 Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy

Abstract

Study Design Clinical measurement, cross-sectional. Objective To determine if spinal joint stiffness is different in individuals with nonspecific neck pain, and whether stiffness magnitude is associated with pain intensity and disability. Background Manual therapists commonly evaluate spinal joint stiffness in patients presenting with nonspecific neck pain. However, a relationship between stiffness and neck pain has not yet been demonstrated. Methods Spinal stiffness at C7 was objectively measured in participants with chronic nonspecific neck pain whose symptomatic spinal level was identified as C7 (n = 12) and in age- and sex-matched asymptomatic controls (n = 12). Stiffness (slope of the linear region of the force-displacement curve) was quantified using a device that applied 5 standardized mechanical force cycles to the C7 spinous process, while concurrently measuring displacement and resistance to movement. Stiffness was compared between groups using an independent t test. Spearman rho and Pearson r were used to determine the extent to which stiffness magnitude was associated with pain intensity (visual analog scale) and level of disability (Neck Disability Index), respectively, in the group with neck pain. Results Participants with nonspecific neck pain had greater spinal joint stiffness at C7 compared with asymptomatic individuals (mean difference, 1.78 N/mm; 95% confidence interval: 0.28, 3.27; P = .022). However, stiffness magnitude in the group with neck pain was not associated (P>.05) with pain intensity or level of disability. Conclusion These preliminary results suggest that cervical spine stiffness may be greater in the presence of nonspecific neck pain. However, judgments regarding pain intensity and level of disability should not be inferred from examinations of spinal joint stiffness. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2015;45(3):162-169. Epub 27 Jan 2015. doi:10.2519/jospt.2015.5711.

KEYWORDS:

cervical vertebrae; manual therapy; palpation; physical examination

PMID:

 

25627153

 

[PubMed - in process]

La evaluación de la rigidez vertebral es una técnica empleada de manera frecuente por los terapeutas manuales cuando los pacientes presentan dolor cervical no específico. Sin embargo, a pesar de lo extendido del uso, todavía debe demostrarse la relación entre la rigidez y el dolor cervical. El siguiente ensayo clínico aleatorizado investigó si la rigidez vertebral es de hecho diferente en individuos con dolor cervical y si la magnitud de la rigidez estaba correlacionada con el dolor y la discapacidad.

La rigidez vertebral se cuantificó en C7 a 12 sujetos con dolor crónico cervical no específico y se comparó con 12 controles emparejados por edad y sexo. C7 se identificó, por un fisioterapeuta cualificado en la materia, como el segmento más sintomático en el grupo de dolor cervical.

Los participantes con dolor cervical no específico presentaron mayor rigidez vertebral en C7 comparado con los individuos asintomáticos. Sin embargo, la magnitud de la rigidez en el grupo de dolor cervical, no se asoció con la intensidad del dolor o el nivel de discapacidad. Futuros estudios deberán establecer si esta asociación se mantiene para patologías cervicales específicas.

> De: Ingram et al., J Orthop Sports Phys Ther (2015) (Publ. antes de impresión). Todos los derechos reservados: Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. Pincha aquí para acceder al resumen de Pubmed.. Traducido por Francisco Jimeno Serrano