Thirteen studies were included in the present review. Meta-analysis on ten studies demonstrated that those with chronic neck pain perform significantly worse on ‘head-to-neutral’ repositioning tests, with a moderate standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.44 (95% confidence interval: 0.25 to 0.63). Two studies evaluated head repositioning using trunk movement (no active head movement thus hypothesised to remove vestibular input) and found conflicting results. Three studies evaluated complex/postural repositioning tests: postural repositioning was no different between groups and complex movement tests were only impaired in chronic neck pain if error was continuously evaluated throughout the movement.
(…)
A paucity of studies evaluating complex/postural repositioning tests does not permit us to make any solid conclusions about them.
(…)
People with chronic, idiopathic neck pain demonstrate a moderate impairment in ‘head-to-neutral’ repositioning tests, when compared with asymptomatic controls.
Références bibliographiques :
Stanton TR et al. Evidence of Impaired Proprioception in Chronic, Idiopathic Neck Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Phys Ther. 2015 Oct 15. Article en pré-publication.
