400 Section - Is there a pattern of segmental disorders in the cervical spine in people over 65 years of age and neck pain?

Objectives : Functional disorders may affect each of the spinal segments and manifest themselves in both reduced and increased mobility (hypo/hypermobility) and disorders in the soft tissues of the neck. The aim of the study was to assess whether typical, reproducible patterns of segmental disorders at the level of specific cervical segments can be identified in patients over 65 years of age.

Design: The study involved a group of N=75 participants (59 females and 16 males) with neck pain aged 65 to 78. Patients underwent a functional X-ray of the cervical spine and a manual assessment of segmental mobility according to the Kaltenborn – Evjenth examination concept. Patients were assessed for the occurrence of hypo- and hypermobility. The intensity of pain was assessed using VAS scale. Disability in the cervical spine was assessed using the NDI scale, the shape of the cervical spine curvature was assessed and the level of kinesiophobia was examined using the Tampa scale of kinesiophobia.

Results: In the examined group of participants, the disfunction of hypo- or hypermobility nature occurred at most segments. The mean number of disturbed segments was 7 ± 2,5.
In X-ray the correlation with manual examination were found at segments C2/C3, C3/C4 and C6/C7. There was a statistically significant, positive correlation between NDI and VAS (p = 0.000000). There was a statistically significant difference between NDI value in patients with and without kinesiophobia (p=0.0003). The difference between VAS in the group with and without kinesiophobia was statistically insignificant.

Conclusion: Despite finding single correlations, no consistent, unambiguous patterns of segmental disorders were found for any of the assessed segments. There is no clear pattern of segmental disorders in cervical spine among 65+ patients with neck pain.