Cervical Health Parameters in Car Drivers: Assessing the Influence of Driving on Neck Pain, Mobility, Proprioception and Craniovertebral Angle – A Cross-Sectional Study

Figures & data

Table 1 Characteristics of Participants

Characteristics	Neck Pain Group (n=80)	Non-Neck Pain Group (n=80)	Chi- square or t value	p-value
Mean age (years)	34.5 ±5.0	33.8 ±4.7	−0.456	0.650
Mean BMI (kg/m²)	22.1 ±1.9	22.3 ±1.8	0.342	0.734
Gender (M/F)	48/32 (60%/40%)	40/40 (50%/50%)	0.404	0.525
Driving experience (years)	4.1 ±0.8	3.9 ±0.7	−0.841	0.405

Abbreviations: BMI, Body Mass Index; M, Male; F, Female.

Table 2 Cervical Range of Motion (CROM) Comparisons Between Groups

Direction	Neck Pain Group (n=20)	Non-Neck Pain Group (n=20)	Mean Difference	95% Confidence Interval	t value	p-value
Flexion	32.2±6.5	41.4 ± 4.1	−9.2°	−12.5° to −5.9°	5.35	0.00
Extension	31.2 ± 7.1	38.8 ± 7.4	−7.6°	−12.2° to −2.9°	−3.31	0.00
Right Lateral Flexion	30.4 ± 8.1	36.8 ± 4.5	−6.4°	−10.5°to −2.2°	3.08	0.00
Right Lateral Flexion	32.2 ± 5.4	38.8 ±4.1	−6.6°	−9.6° to −3.5°	4.35	0.00
Right Rotation	46.4 ± 7.3	55.1 ± 6.4	−8.7°	−13.1° to −4.3°	4.00	0.00
Left Rotation	48.4 ± 5.4	56.5 ± 4.1	−8.1°	−11.1° to −5.0°	5.34	0.00

Table 3 CVA Comparisons Between Groups

Group	CVA	Mean ± SD	Mean Difference	95% Confidence Interval	p-value
Neck Pain	Smaller	42.4 ± 3.3
Non-Neck Pain	Larger	48.7 ±2.1	−6.3°	−8.1° to −4.5°	0.01

Abbreviation: CV, Craniovertebral Angle.

Table 4 Proprioceptive Comparisons Between Groups

Group	Proprioceptive Accuracy	Mean ± SD	Mean Difference	95% CL	p-value
Neck Pain	Decreased	5.9 ± 1.2		−5.2° to −3.7°
Non-Neck Pain	Reference Group	1.4 ± 1.1	−4.5°		0.00

Table 5 Logistic Regression Analysis

Variable	Coefficient	Standard Error	Odd Ratio	95% Confidence Interval		p-value
				Lover	Upper
Flexion	−0.0743	0.3495	0.820	−0.889	0.491	0.001
Extension	0.2094	0.3108	0.960	−0.640	0.558	0.012
Right Lateral Flexion	0.0827	0.1195	0.912	−0.329	0.140	0.000
Right Lateral Flexion	0.1876	0.3507	1 0.123	−0.572	0.806	0.001
Right Rotation	0.1595	0.2950	0.978	−0.598	0.554	0.023
Left Rotation	0.1334	0.4097	1 0.111	0.105	0.907	0.014
CVA	−0.7662	0.4900	0.624	−1.438	0.495	0.000
Proprioceptive Accuracy	1.0117	0.4494	1 0.323	−0.293	1.414	0.080
Constant	−24.018