[Active range of cervical motion in healthy subjects and in spinal disorders. DBC equipment validity in complex cervical motion evaluation].

Unlabelled: Active Range of motion (AROM) is one of the crucial parameters assessed in the cervical spine evaluation. Repeated standardized AROM evaluation enables objectified monitoring of disease progress or therapy related improvement. Active spine therapy according to DBC (Documentation Based Care) requirement is a contemporary therapeutic system with proven efficacy in spinal disorders. The therapeutic concept f DBC is mechanotherapy based and introduces special devices designed for active exercises in strictly defined range, rate and load. DBC-3CR device is constructed for active motion (composed of rotation, anteflexion and lateral flexion) exercise of the cervical spine with repeated dynamic load. Technical properties allow to avail the machine for diagnostic purposes as far complex range of motion is concerned.

Purpose: Comparison of AROM between healthy volunteers and patients with cervical disorders. Evaluation of DBC-3CR validity in complex AROM measurement Patients: A--99 healthy volunteers; B--106 patients with chronic neck pain resulting from cervical spondylosis; C--36 patients with acute neck pain related to cervical disc disease or whiplash injury.

Methods: Complex AROM detection with DBC-3CR was compared with reference measurements (goniometric and inclinometric simple AROM detection). Age and sex dependence of AROM among healthy subjects was observed. AROM was compared between B, C and reference groups.

Discussion: AROM was significantly decreased in patients with chronic and acute neck pain. Motion limitation pattern was symmetric in both groups. The presence of linear dependency between complex AROM acquired with DBC-3CE and rotation acquired with goniometer was observed (Pearson coefficient 0.81 at p < 0.0001).

Conclusions: I. DBC-3CR device is useful in AROM evaluation. 2. AROM in healthy subjects decreases with age, but is sex--independent parameter. 3. In cervical spondylosis AROM is symmetrically reduced as far as rotation and lateral flexion are concerned. 4. Acute cervical pain results in symmetric AROM limitation.