title: Preliminary evaluation of dorsal muscle activity during resisted cervical extension in patients with longstanding pain and disability following anterior cervical decompression and fusion surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare mechanical activity (deformation and deformation rate) of the dorsal neck muscles between individuals with longstanding symptoms after anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) surgery and healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preliminary cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neurosurgery clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten individuals {mean age 60 [standard deviation (SD) 7.1]} who had undergone ACDF surgery 10 to 13 years previously and 10 healthy age- and sex-matched controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mechanical activity of the different layers of dorsal neck muscles, measured at the C4 segment using ultrasonography (speckle tracking analysis) during a standardised, resisted cervical extension task.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant group×muscle interaction was found for muscle deformation (P<0.03) but not for deformation rate (P>0.79). The ACDF group showed significantly less deformation of the semispinalis capitis muscle during the extension task compared with the control group [mean 3.12 (SD 2.06) and 6.64 (SD 4.17), respectively; mean difference 3.34 (95% confidence interval -0.54 to 7.21)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As the semispinalis capitis muscle is a powerful neck extensor, the finding of altered activation following ACDF surgery lends support to the inclusion of exercise to train neck muscle performance in the management of these patients.
authors: Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; NHMRC CCRE (Spinal Pain, Injury and Health), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. Electronic address: Anneli.Peolsson@liu.se.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Peolsson
authors: Computational Life Science Cluster, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Peolsson
authors: NHMRC CCRE (Spinal Pain, Injury and Health), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Jull
authors: Computational Life Science Cluster, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Löfstedt
authors: Computational Life Science Cluster, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Trygg
authors: NHMRC CCRE (Spinal Pain, Injury and Health), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Physiotherapy Department, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Queensland Health, Queensland, Australia.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: O'Leary
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D064131:Back Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
keywords: Disc disease; Exercise; Extensor muscles; Neck surgery; Ultrasonography