Natural variation of cervical range of motion: a one-way repeated-measures design.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the natural variation of the active and passive cervical range of motion (ROM) in asymptomatic subjects over a 3-wk period.


METHODS
One-way repeated measures of active and passive cervical ROM.


METHODS
Institute of Medical Biology (Center of Biomechanics) at Odense University, Denmark.


METHODS
Forty asymptomatic students from the University of Odense. Male/female ratio, 20:20; mean age, 23.9 yr (range, 20-30 yr).


METHODS
Measurements of the active and passive cervical ROM were taken using the electrogoniometer CA-6000 Spine Motion Analyzer. Each subject was measured six times during a 3-wk period. The measurements were performed at the same time of the day. The device gives the maximum end ROM for the motion plane examined.


RESULTS
The natural variation in active and passive ROM was found to be in the order of chi +/- 20 degrees for flexion/extension, chi +/- 12 degrees for lateral flexion and chi +/- 14 degrees for rotation.


CONCLUSIONS
In asymptomatic subjects, the individual natural variation is quite large for active and passive cervical flexion/extension, lateral flexion and rotation. When measuring individual patients, one should allow for a natural variation of 12-20 degrees.
Christensen
H W
HW
Nordic Institute of Chiropractic and Clinical Biomechanics, Odense, Denmark.
Nilsson
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology*; D002684:Chiropractic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012016:Reference Values