title: Differences in human cervical spine kinematics for active and passive motions of symptomatic and asymptomatic subject groups.
abstract: Most musculoskeletal disorders of the head and neck regions cannot be identified through imaging techniques; therefore clinician-conducted assessments (passive motions) are used to evaluate the functional ability of these regions. Although active motions do not require interaction with a clinician, these movements can also provide diagnostic indicators of dysfunction. The purpose of this research was to determine whether kinematic measures differed between active and passive movements of participants in symptomatic and asymptomatic groups. Data obtained on cervical lateral flexion range of motion (ROM), coupled axial rotation, and the angular velocity of lateral flexion were statistically analyzed and demonstrated differences between active and passive motions for symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects. Active motions had higher angular velocities (P < .001) and larger ROMs, with greater lateral flexions (P < .05). The asymptomatic group produced a larger average lateral flexion of 7.9° at an average angular velocity of 2 deg/s greater than the symptomatic group. Trends with regard to group assignment were the same for active and passive motions. This work demonstrates the potential for using kinematic measures of active and passive motions to develop an objective standard for diagnoses of cervical dysfunction and supports validity of the clinician-based analysis to distinguish between participant groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rutledge
authors.forename: Tamara Reid
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vorro
authors.forename: Mingfei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: DeStefano
authors.forename: Sherman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gorbis
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Francisco
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seffinger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D019416:Head Movements; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000503:physiopathology