Nonspesifik Boyun Ağrılı Bireylerde Fizyoterapinin Median Sinir Nörodinamik Test Sonuçlarına Etkisi

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the results of median nerve neurodynamic test between subjects with nonspecific neck pain and healthy subjects and investigate the effects of physical therapy program on the results of median nerve neurodynamic test that was applied to nonspecific neck pain subjects. 30 subjects (the average age 40.40±10.65) with a diagnosis of nonspecific neck pain and 28 healthy subjects (the average age 36.27±8.97) were included in this study. Demographic properties were recorded and pressure pain threshold, range of motion, level of depression, quality of life, posture and sensitivity of median nerve were assessed in both groups. In addition, pain severity and level of disability were assessed in nonspesific neck pain subjects. The assessments were applied twice, before and after 3 weeks of the treatment process in nonspesific neck pain subjects and with a 3-week interval in healthy subjects. Subjects with nonspecific neck pain reported first sensation at an earlier stage ( %50 of neck pain subjects, %21 of healthy subjects), had different sensations ( %53 of neck pain subjects reported pain anhyd %33 of stretch, %64 of healthy subjects reported stretch and %18 of pain) and their elbow extension angle was found to be more limited (p=0.032) compared to the healthy subjects during the Upper Limb Neurodynamic Test 1 (ULNT1) that assessing the sensitivity of the median nevre. It was found more limited cervical flexion, cervical right and left lateral angles, decreased dominant and non-dominant side pressure pain threshold, increased depression level decreased quality of life in nonspesific neck pain subjects compared to the healthy subjects (p<0.005). It was revealed that responses given to the ULNT1 did not change after physical therapy program in nonspesific neck pain subjects (p>0.05). Significant decrease was found in pain severity, level of disability, level of depression and significant increase in cervical flexion angle and in the quality of life (p<0.05). İt was revealed that sensitivity of median nerve increased in nonspecific neck pain subjects compared to the healthy subjects and clasical physical therapy program was not effective in changing median nerve sensitivity. It was concluded that the evaluation of median nerve sensitivity and the integration of treatment approaches decreasing median nerve sensitivity to classical treatment program are beneficial.