ABSTRACT
Objective:
To verify if there is a correlation between the morphology of the cervical spine curvature, pain intensity, functional disability, and range of motion in individuals with cervicalgia.
Methods:
Thirty-nine individuals were evaluated using x-rays in the right sagittal plane (Cobb C1-C7 two-line method), visual analogue scale, Neck Disability Index questionnaire, and fleximeter. Descriptive statistical analysis (percentage, mean and standard deviation) and inferential (independent t-test and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, α=0.05) were performed.
Results:
There were significant correlations, ranging from moderate to high, between functional capacity and pain intensity (r=0.637, p<0.001), and total range of motion (r=-0.568, p<0.001), and extension (r=-0.610, p<0.001), and between pain intensity and range of motion (r=-0.422, p=0.007). Regarding the morphology of the cervical spine curvature, none of the variables showed a significant correlation.
Conclusions:
Cervical morphology, more specifically related to the curvature in the sagittal plane, does not seem to interfere alone with pain, functionality, and range of motion. In contrast, it is possible to affirm that higher levels of pain generate a smaller range of cervical movement, especially of extension, which, in turn, results in greater functional losses in individuals with neck pain. Level of Evidence II; Prognostic Studies - Investigating the Effect of a Patient Characteristic on the Outcome of Disease.
Keywords:
Neck Pain; Posture; X Rays
