- Title
- Cervical muscle volume in individuals with idiopathic neck pain compared toasymptomatic controls: a cross-sectional magnetic resonance imaging study
- Creator
- Snodgrass, Suzanne J.; Croker, Christopher; Yerrapothu, Meghana; Shepherd, Samala; Stanwell, Peter; Holder, Carl; Oldmeadow, Chris; Elliot, James
- Relation
- Musculoskeletal Science and Practice Vol. 44, Issue December 2019, no. 102050
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.msksp.2019.102050
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2019
- Description
- Background: Neck muscle compositional changes may represent potential biomarkers contributing towards chronic neck-related pain and disability. Objectives: To determine differences in muscle volume in the cervical muscles of individuals with chronic idiopathic neck pain compared with age- and sex-matched asymptomatic individuals, and to determine if these muscle variables relate to spinal level, side (left or right), age, sex, body mass index (BMI) or muscle strength. Study design: Cross-sectional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study. Methods: Muscle volume of five muscle (groups) from cervical levels C3-T1 in 20 pain and 17 asymptomatic participants were quantified using MRI: levator scapulae, multifidus including semispinalis cervicis, semispinalis, splenius capitus including splenius cervicis, and sternocleidomastoid. Isometric extensor and flexor muscle strength were assessed with a dynamometer. Linear mixed modelling determined differences between groups in muscle volume accounting for participant characteristics. Results: Individuals with pain had greater muscle volume (adjusted mean difference 71.2 mm3 (95% CI 14.2–128.2, p = .015) of the sternocleidomastoid, accounting for spinal level, side, muscle group (extensors vs flexor), sex, age, body mass index and strength. Modelling indicated muscle volume differed between spinal levels (p < .001); greater extensor muscle strength was associated with greater volume (p = .011); female sex (p < .001) and older age (p = .012) were associated with less volume. Conclusion: Between-group differences in cervical flexor muscle volume, and volume differences across spinal levels and muscles suggest the contribution of cervical muscles to chronic idiopathic neck pain is multifaceted and complex.
- Subject
- muscular atrophy; muscle strength; neck pain; pain
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1470002
- Identifier
- uon:48359
- Identifier
- ISSN:2468-7812
- Language
- eng
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