Effect of Neck Muscle Fatigue on Hand Muscle Motor Performance and Early Somatosensory Evoked Potentials.

Even on pain free days, recurrent neck pain alters sensorimotor integration (SMI) measured via somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs). Neck muscle fatigue decreases upper limb proprioception, and thus may interfere with upper limb motor task acquisition and SMI. This study aimed to determine the effect of cervical extensor muscle (CEM) fatigue on upper limb motor acquisition and retention; and SMI, measured via early SEPs.