Design Optimization And Development Of An Instrument Measuring Neck Muscle Function

Neck pain is one of the most debilitating conditions for which patients seek medical and physiotherapy treatment. Cervical muscle function has been very often associated with the pathological factors and has been regarded as one of the important diagnostic and prognostic factors in the successful management of such patients afflicted with neck related painful conditions. Health professionals practicing physiotherapy, orthopaedics, neurology, etc., who advise and rehabilitate patients with neck related ailments often recommend neck range of motion and strengthening exercises for the neck muscles to alleviate the pain and improve neck muscle function. Accordingly, it is important to measure the baseline cervical muscle function in order to assess the deficits, plan and implement an effective exercise prescription with the scope to monitor progress at regular follow-ups.

However, the different dynamometers used to measure the isometric cervical muscle strength have different working principles, measured values and clinimetric properties, thus making it difficult to compare the results of one study with that of the other. Further, due to the exorbitant prices of fixed frame dynamometers and the inconsistent protocols of the hand-held dynamometers, their use in the routine clinical practice is limited only.

The study will help in the development of a valid and a reliable indigenous instrument to quantify the neck muscle function related parameters like, neck muscle strength and range of motion in different planes with a strong bio-measure protocol thereby, assisting the health professionals in prescribing an effective and more objective exercise regime with a scope to measure improvement over the rehabilitation phase.