After-effects of neck muscle vibration on sensorimotor function and pain in neck pain patients and healthy controls – a case-control study

Abstract

Purpose: Neck muscle vibration immediately improves cervical joint position sense and dynamic postural control but increases pressure pain thresholds in neck pain patients. The aim of this study was to explore longer lasting effects of neck muscle vibration on sensorimotor control and pressure pain threshold.

Materials and methods: Five series of neck muscle vibration were delivered to 15 neck pain patients and 11 healthy controls in this case control study. Outcomes were cervical joint position sense, arm-matching acuity, and pressure pain threshold at the zygapophyseal joint of C2/C3, the angulus superior, and the tibialis anterior muscle.

Results: Cervical joint position sense acuity improved in neck pain patients and declined in healthy controls even after 24 h. Arm-matching acuity improved in patients assessed after 15 min, as was pressure pain threshold at the angulus superior in neck pain patients. In contrast, changes in the pressure pain threshold at the tibia were only observable immediately after vibration.

Conclusion: Neck muscle vibration induced short-lasting general as well as longer-lasting specific effects on analgesia and sensorimotor function. Based on our observations, future studies should investigate potential benefits of neck muscle vibration as adjunct to physical therapy in order to improve cervical sensorimotor function.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• A single session of neck muscle vibration improves cervical joint position sense in neck patients for up to 24 h.

• Neck muscle vibration improves arm-matching acuity in neck pain patients.

• Neck muscle vibration increases pressure pain thresholds at the stimulated place but decrease pressure pain thresholds more distally.

• Neck muscle vibration shows distinct effects in neck pain patients and healthy control.

Keywords:

• Neck pain
• cervical joint position sense
• arm-matching acuity
• vibration
• pressure pain threshold

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.