Table 5
Description of studies measuring joint position sense
| First author, year, design | Study population | Testing circumstances | Device | Comparison of joint position sense between groups | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type of neck pain, pain duration, pain intensity, sex (♂,♀), mean age (SD), mean BMI (SD) recruitment, occupation | Controls’ sex (♂,♀), mean age (SD), mean BMI (SD), recruitment, occupation | Examiners professional background, training, blinding | Instruction standardised, type of test, training, repeated, restrictions applied* | Type, sample rate (Hz), measurement error, LOA, ICC, SEM | Neck pain group I, type degrees (SD) | Neck pain group II, type degrees (SD) | Healthy controls type degrees (SD) | |
| Alahmari 2017, cross-sectional | NP, 24 (10.8) weeks, 48.6 mm (21.3), NR♂NR (Total 42) ♀, 47.4 (18.8), 23.8 (3.2), physical therapy clinic, NR | NR♂ NR total 42♀, 47.8 (15.2), 25.9 (3.4), advertisement, NR | NR, NR, NR | Yes, mid-range task, NR, yes, sitting (F/E task), supine (rotation task), back support, yes, NR, NR, NR | Digital inclinometer (Dualer IQ; JTECH Medical, Salt Lake City, UT), NR, NR, NR, NR, NR | NP, mid-range task: F: 6.79 (1.41), E: 7.74 (1.66), RR: 6.33 (0.79), RL: 7.21 (1.32) | HC, mid-range task: F: 2.57 (1.30)a, E: 2.95 (1.10)a, RR: 1.95 (1.44)a, RL: 2.14 (1.57)a | |
| Armstrong 2005, case control | WAD II and III, 28.5 (19.5) months, NPRS 4.7 (1.6), 8♂, 15♀, 41.2 (11.9), 24.7 (4.7), local newspaper, NR | 10♂, 13♀, 33.9 (12.1), 23.4 (3.2), local newspaper, NR | NR, NR, NR | Yes, yes, AROM and JPE, NR, NR, Sitting, back support, No, to pain limit, NR, blindfolded | 3-Space Fastrak, 40 Hz, 0,2, NR, > 0,96, NR | WAD. Mid-range tasks: 2.97 (1.15), neutral range tasks: 3.55 (1.72) | HC. Mid-range tasks: 2.43 (0.62), neutral range tasks: 3.25 (2.32) | |
| Bahat 2015, case control | CNP, 93.03 (104.46) months, VAS 36.42 (17.24) mm, 13♂, 20♀, 37.56 (9.95), NR (NR), University of Queensland and University of Haifa | 15♂, 8♀, 33 (678), NR (NR), University of Queensland and University of Haifa, NR | Physiotherapists, experienced, NR | Yes, hit a target, yes, yes, sitting, fixed to back support, 40° of range, fast as possible, no | Head mounted display with a built-in motion tracker (Wrap™ 1200VR by Vuzix, New York, www.vuzix.com), 30 Hz, NR, NR, NR, NR | CNP. Follow a target: F (x,y): (25.53 (12), 70.83 (28.7), E (x,y): (36.16 (21.4), 59.76 (24.3)), LR (x,y): (57.4 (20.9), 30.62 (14.8), RR (x,y): (48.98 (22.7), 27.52 (11.2) | HC. Follow a target: F (x,y): (15.31a (4.6), 44.51a (11.6), E (x,y): (22.89 (28), 34.12a (8.3), LR (x,y): (43.35a (16.7), 27.16 (8.1), RR (x,y): (36.00a (8.4), 25.73 (7.5) | |
| Dugailly 2015, case control | CNP, > 6 months, NR (NR), 11♂, 24♀, 42 (8), NR (NR), NR, NR. | 14♂, 22♀, 42 (5), NR (NR), NR, NR | NR, NR, NR | NR, repositioning task, NR, yes, sitting, back support, no, NR, unclear, yes | Three dimensional electrogoniometer (OSI CA 6000 Spine Motion Analyzer), NR, NR, NR, NR, NR | CNP. slow RR: 4.9 (2.5), slow LR: 5.2 (2.7), slow F: 4.8 (2.6), slow E: 6.8 (3.3), fast RR: 5 (2.3), fast LR: 5 (3), fast F: 5.2 (2.8), fast E: 7.1 (3.6) | HC. slow RR: 3.1a (1.3), slow LR: 2.8a (1.3), slow F: 2.6a (1.5), slow E: 3.1a (1.4), fast RR: 2.8a (1.7), fast LR: 2.9a (1.2), fast F: 3.2a (2.7), fast E: 3.6a (2.1) | |
| Cheng 2009, case control | CNP, 4.4 (2.2 ) years, NPRS 3.7 (0.8), 6♂, 6♀, 25.4 (2.1), NR (NR), NR, graduated students, teachers, or clinicians | 7♂, 5♀, 24.9 (1.8), NR (NR), NR, graduated students | NR, NR, NR | NR, neck flexion/ extension, yes, NR, sitting, back support, yes, not end range, self-selected, no | Electrogoniometer (CXTLA02, Crossbow, Inc., San Jose, CA, USA), NR, 0.1°, NR, NR, NR | CNP, neutral flexion neutral (CE): 7.1 (3.5), neutral extension neutral (CE): 6.3 (4.7) | HC, neutral flexion neutral (CE): 3.5a (1.8), neutral extension neutral (CE): 4.2a (3.3) | |
| Edmondston 2007, case control | Postural neck pain, 5.2 (4.28) years, VAS 48.3 (14.81) mm, 10♂11♀, 29.0 (7.36), NR, advertisement, NR | 10♂ 12♀, 25.7 (5.95), NR, advertising, NR | Experienced physiotherapist, NR, NR | Yes, habitual sitting posture, perceived good posture and JPE, yes, yes, sitting, no, NA, NA, blindfolded | System (PEAK Performance Technologies Inc., Centen-PEAK Performance Technologies Inc., Centennial, CO, USA), 50 Hz,5 mm, NR, NR, NR | Postural neck pain, cervicothoracic angle: ≈ 2.1 (1.25), head tilt angle: ≈ 3.3 (2,6), Cx protraction angle: ≈ 2.5 (1.9), shoulder protraction angle: ≈ 1.4 (1,0) | HC, cervicothoracic angle: ≈ 1.4 (0.75), head tilt angle: ≈ 2,9 (2.1), Cx protraction angle: ≈ 2.7 (1.7), shoulder protraction angle: ≈ 1.3 (0.8) | |
| Feipel 2006, case control | WAD, 31 (32) moths, NR (NR), 11♂, 18♀, 37 (14), NR (NR), NR, NR | 12♂, 14♀, 35 (11), NR (NR), NR, NR | NR, NR, NR | YES, ROM (F/E and R) HRE, yes, yes, sitting back support, no, end range, self-selected, yes and no | 3D electrogoniometer (CA 6000 Spine Motion Analyzer, O.S.I., Union City, CA),100 Hz, NR, NR, NR, NR | WAD, neutral F/E: 3.5 (2.4), neutral R: 1.1 (1.1), neutral LF: 0.8 (0.6) | HC, neutral F/E: 2.1 (2.0), neutral R: 0.6 (0.5), neutral LF: 0.4 (0.3) | |
| Grip 2007, case control | CNP, > 3 months, VAS 49.2 (20.8) mm, 7♂, 14♀, 49 (16), NR (NR), rehabilitation clinics and medical centres, NR. WAD I and I, > 3 months, VAS 66.1 (18.8) mm, 5♂, 17♀, 49 (15), NR (NR), rehabilitation clinics and medical centres, NR | 8♂, 16♀, 50 (18), NR (NR), advertisement, NR | Research assistant, NR, NR | Yes, AROM, JPE, yes, yes, sitting, NR, no, end range self-selected, eyes closed | Myrin device and ProReflex system (Qualisys Medical AB, Gothenburg, Sweden), 120, 0.8 (1.73), NR, NR, NR | CNP, absolute error F: 2.8 (1.2), E: 2.9 (1.3), RR: 3.7 (1.6), LR: 3.6 (3.0) | WAD, absolute error F: 3.4 (1.6), E: 3.5 (1.8), RR: 3.7 (1.9), LR: 4.0 (2.1) | HC, absolute error F: 2.9 (0.9), E: 2.7 (1.0), RR: 3.1 (1.3), LR: 3.5 (1.3) |
| Harvie 2016, case control | CNP, 12(10) years, NDI 29% (0.13), 6♂, 18♀, 44 (15), NR (NR), local physical therapy clinics, NR | 6♂, 18♀, 45 (15), NR (NR), local physical therapy, BodyinMind.org website, university campus noticeboards, NR | NR, NR, NR | Yes, relocation to neutral, NR, yes, sitting, back support, fixed to back support, set limit, NR, no | Oculus VR, Menlo Park, California, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR | CNP. Absolute error: 3.3 (1.5) | HC. Absolute error: 2.8 (1.1) | |
| Kristjansson 2004, case control | WAD II and III, > 6 months, < 6 years, NR, 0♂20♀, NR, BR, physiotherapy clinics, NR | 0♂ 20♀, NR, NR, NR, NR | NR, NR, yes | Yes, motion trekking ‘the fly’, yes, yes, sitting, back support, no, NA, fixed, no | 3-Space Fastrak system, NR, 0.2°, > 0.6, < 0.86, NR, NR | WAD, movement pattern A: 5.17, movement pattern B: 4.65, movement pattern C: 4.97 | HC, movement pattern A: 3.97a, movement pattern B: 3.51a, movement pattern C: 3.97a | |
| Kristjansson 2010, case control | Non-traumatic neck pain, > 6 months, < 6 years, **VASmax 6.7 (2.6), 7♂11♀, 38.0 (8.3), NR, NR, NR. WAD (II), NR, VASmax 8.0 (1.4), 2♂16♀, 35.5 (11.9), NR, NR, NR | 10♂ 8♀, 32.2 (10.9), NR, NR, NR | Research assistant, NR, yes | Yes, follow a target, yes, yes, sitting, NR, NR, NR, NR, no | 3-Space Fastrak system, NR, NR, − 0.89 mm to 1.03 mm, 0.78 (0.74–0.81), NR | Non-traumatic NP: Easy (mm) 2.06 (0.52). Medium (mm) 2.70 (0.88). Difficult (mm) 3.42 (1.30) | WAD (II): Easy 2.52 (0.78). Medium (mm) 3.45 (1.45). Difficult (mm) 4.09 (1.51) | HC: Easy (mm) 1.78 (0.33)b. Medium (mm) 2.17 (0.44)ab. Difficult (mm) 2.64 (0.52)ab |
| Meisingset 2015, case control | NP, > 2 weeks, NPRS 4.6 (1.4), 20♂, 55♀, 43.1 (12.9), 24.9 (4.7), private physiotherapy clinic and specialised neck and back pain clinic at university hospital, NR | 43♂, 48♀, 40.8 (13.8), 25 (3.5), university hospital, NR | Physiotherapist, well trained, NR | Unclear, AROM, JPE, follow a motion pattern, unclear, yes, sitting, back support, fixed to back support, end range, self-selected, yes (JPE test) | Electromagnetic motion tracker system (Polhemus, Inc, Colchester, Vermont, USA), 240 Hz, NR, NR, NR, NR | NP. Head reposition: 5.6 (2.2), figure of eight low speed (cm): 3.4 (1.3), figure of eight high speed (cm): 4.4 (1.8), figure of eight standing low speed (cm): 2.9 (0.9). Fly easy (cm): 2.2 (0.9), fly medium (cm): 3.1 (0.9) | HC. Head reposition: 5.1 (1.9), figure of eight low speed (cm): 3.8 (1.4), figure of eight high speed (cm): 5.2a (1.9), figure of eight standing low speed (cm): 3.3 (1.5). Fly easy (cm): 2.5a (0.9), fly medium (cm): 3.3 (1.5) | |
| Woodhouse 2008, case control | WAD I and II, > 6 months, NPRS 5.60 (2.49), 22♂, 34♀, 38.19 (10.8), NR (NR), referred, NR. CNP, > 6 months, NPRS 3.84 (− 1.74), 19♂, 38♀, 43.7 (12.6), NR (0), physiotherapists and general practitioners, NR | 29♂, 28♀, 38.2 (10.9), NR (NR), different, NR | NR, NR, no | NR, AROM, NR, yes, sitting, NR, end range, NR, eyes closed | 3-Space Fastrak, 120 Hz, reference, NR, NR, NR | WAD, neutral task: 3.35 (1.6) | CNP, neutral task: 3.17 (1.1) | HC, neutral task: 2.86 (1.2) |
*Is test position in sitting, standing, with back support? Is the test subject fixed to the back support? Test to end range or pain limit? Movement speed self-selected, fast as possible or fixed? Is the test subject blindfolded?
**Participants were asked about maximum pain level
aSignificant difference neck pain group I vs HC (p > 0,05)
bSignificant difference neck pain group II vs HC (p > 0,05)
cSignificant difference neck pain group I vs II (p > 0,05). ≈ Read from a graph