Performance of core stabilizer muscles in individuals with neck pain and low back pain

Abstract

Objectives: The primary objectives of this study were to compare the performance of back stabilizer muscles in individuals with subacute neck pain, chronic neck pain, and asymptomatic conditions as well as to compare the performance of neck stabilizer muscles in individuals with subacute low back pain, chronic low back pain, and asymptomatic conditions. The secondary objectives were to identify the correlations between level of performance of back stabilizer muscles and pain severity and disability of neck pain. Furthermore, the correlations between level of performance of neck stabilizer muscles and pain severity and disability of low back pain were studied. Methods: One hundred and twenty-two participants were recruited. They consisted of five groups with 23 participants in each of the subacute neck pain, chronic neck pain, subacute low back pain, and chronic low back pain groups. The last group consisted of 30 age- and gender-matched control participants. All participants performed two core stabilizer muscle tests: the craniocervical flexion test (CCFT) and the abdominal drawing-in test (ADIT). Results: Significantly lower pressure change values from the ADIT for back stabilizer muscle performance were found in the participants with neck pain when comparing subacute and the chronic pain groups to the control group (p < 0.05). The activation score and performance index from the CCFT for neck stabilizer muscle performance of the participants in the subacute and the chronic low back pain groups were also lower than the control group (p < 0.05). Significant differences in the proportions of the participants whom were classified as normal and abnormal responses on the ADIT and the CCFT among subacute, chronic, and control groups were demonstrated (p < 0.05). The pain severity and disability in one spinal region did not correlate with the level of the performance of core stabilizer muscles in the remote spinal region. Conclusion: Abnormal performance of core stabilizer muscles both in the cervical and the lumbar spines is present both in neck pain and low back pain individuals. Pain severity and disability had no effect on the level of core stabilizer muscle performance.