Correlation Between Cervical Deep Flexors Endurance and Proprioception Function in Cervical Radiculopathy

NCT ID: NCT07321119

Last Updated: 2026-01-06

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Total Enrollment: 80 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2026-01-01
• Study Completion Date: 2026-03-01

Brief Summary

In cervical radiculopathy, reduced endurance of the deep cervical flexor muscles is associated with impaired cervical proprioception. This relationship reflects altered sensorimotor control due to muscle dysfunction and neural compromise, emphasizing the need for deep flexor endurance training in rehabilitation.

Detailed Description

In patients with cervical radiculopathy, endurance of the deep cervical flexor muscles (longus capitis and longus colli) plays a crucial role in maintaining cervical segmental stability and accurate sensorimotor control. These muscles are rich in muscle spindles and provide continuous afferent input necessary for cervical proprioception, including joint position sense and movement accuracy. When deep cervical flexor endurance is reduced, there is increased reliance on superficial neck muscles, leading to altered motor patterns and diminished quality of proprioceptive feedback.

Cervical radiculopathy further disrupts proprioceptive function through nerve root compression, inflammation, and impaired neural conduction, which affect both sensory input and motor output. This neuromuscular dysfunction results in increased joint position errors, delayed muscle activation, and poor postural control. Consequently, a significant correlation is observed between decreased deep cervical flexor endurance and impaired cervical proprioception, suggesting that deficits in muscle endurance contribute directly to sensorimotor dysfunction. These findings support rehabilitation approaches that emphasize endurance training of the deep cervical flexors to restore proprioceptive accuracy and cervical motor control in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

Conditions

Cervical Radiculopathy

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: CASE_CONTROL
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Interventions

cevical range of motion device

Cervical proprioception was evaluated using the Cervical Range of Motion (CROM) device by assessing joint position sense (JPS). With the participant seated in an upright position, the CROM device was securely fitted to the head. The patient was instructed to actively move the head from a neutral starting position into a specific direction (flexion, extension, rotation, or lateral flexion), then return to the perceived neutral position with eyes closed.

The difference between the starting neutral position and the repositioned angle was recorded as the joint position error (JPE), measured in degrees. Multiple trials were performed for each movement direction, and the mean JPE value was calculated. Higher JPE values indicated poorer cervical proprioceptive accuracy. The CROM device is considered a reliable and valid clinical tool for quantifying cervical proprioception in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Adults diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy based on clinical examination (± imaging confirmation).

Presence of neck pain with radiating symptoms to the upper limb for at least 4 weeks.

Age range 20-60 years.

Ability to understand instructions and participate in cervical endurance and proprioception assessments.

Exclusion Criteria

• History of cervical spine surgery or acute cervical trauma.

Presence of neurological disorders other than cervical radiculopathy (e.g., stroke, multiple sclerosis).

Vestibular disorders or conditions affecting balance and head position sense.

Inflammatory, rheumatologic, or severe musculoskeletal conditions involving the cervical spine.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 30 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 45 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Delta University for Science and Technology

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Ibrahim Ahmed Ibrahim Abu Ella

Lecturer

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Central Contacts

ibrahim A abu ella, Phd

Role: CONTACT

ibrahimneuron@gmail.com

+201008442281

References

Rafiq S, Zafar H, Gillani SA, Waqas MS, Liaqat S, Zia A, Rafiq Y. Effects of Neurodynamic Mobilization on Health-Related Quality of Life and Cervical Deep Flexors Endurance in Patients of Cervical Radiculopathy: A Randomized Trial. Biomed Res Int. 2022 Oct 5;2022:9385459. doi: 10.1155/2022/9385459. eCollection 2022.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 36246968 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

trial registry 3

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id