Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Musculoskeletal Disorders

Background:Chronic non-specific neck pain (CNNP) follows a recurrent or episodic course and it can result in changes in axio-scapular muscle strength and altered stability of the scapula which can contribute to symptomatic mechanical dysfunction in the cervical spine. Currently, the importance of scapular dysfunction in neck pain has only recently begun to emerge and scapular stability has not been investigated in patients with cervical issues. Objective: To investigate the effect of CNNP on the scapular protractor and retractor muscles strength as well as the scapular stability.Methods:Thirty male subjects, aged between 30 {u2013} 55 years, participated in this study. They were divided into two groups; experimental group (N=15, patients with CNNP) and control group (N=15, healthy subjects). A Biodex System 3 Isokinetic Dynamometer was used to measure the scapular protractors and retractors strength. Also, the scapular stability was measured using the Lateral Scapular Slide Test (LSST) in which three measurements of scapular distance for each test position were obtained bilaterally. Results:There was no statistically significant difference in scapular protractors and retractors strength at both, low and high, speeds between the control and study groups (p > 0.05). However, there was clinical difference in the patients. Also, there was no statistically significant difference in scapular distance at 0{u00B0}, 45{u00B0}, and 90{u00B0} shoulder abduction between the control and study groups (p > 0.05).Conclusion: Chronic non-specific neck pain (CNNP) has no statistically significant effect on scapular muscles strength and scapular stability, however there was clinical difference in the patients. These findings may be taken into account in the assessmentand management of patients with chronic neck pain

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