Investigation of balance performance under different sensory and dual-task conditions in patients with chronic neck pain

Background: Most studies suggest that people with chronic neck pain (CNP) have decreased balance abilities. However, balance performance during performing concurrent tasks is not clarified. Objectives: To investigate balance performance under different sensory and dual-task conditions in people with and without CNP. Method: Twenty-two women with CNP and twenty-two asymptomatic women were tested using the Biodex Stability System. Overall stability index (OSI), anterior/posterior stability index (APSI), medial/lateral stability index (MLSI) were obtained in two sessions: eyes-open and eyes-closed. Both sessions consisted of four conditions: quiet standing, rotating head, counting backward, standing on foam. Higher index scores mean poorer balance. Design: Case-Control study. Results: A mixed factorial ANOVA (2 x 8 design) showed that there was a main effect of CNP on OSI, APSI, and MLSI (p < 0.001), which indicates that CNP causes poor balance. Further, there was an interaction between CNP and test conditions for only OSI (p < 0.05). Simple effects tests showed that patients with CNP had higher OSI in all conditions except standing on foam with eyes-open, and quiet standing and counting backward with eyesclosed (p < 0.05). The largest effect size was obtained during rotating head with eyes-open (12:0.301), followed by counting backward with eyes-open and quiet standing with eyes-open (12:0.267 and 0.245). Performing a concurrent task, closing eyes, or standing on foam mostly increased OSI in both groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Patients with CNP have poorer balance under different sensory and dual-task conditions. Addressing balance assessment while performing concurrent tasks, especially head rotations, may offer new insights into the management of CNP.

Automated summary

Patients with chronic neck pain exhibit poorer balance performance under different sensory and dual-task conditions. Head rotations during performing concurrent tasks have a significant impact on balance ability.