Reliability and Validity of the KFORCE Sens Inertial Sensor for Measuring Cervical Spine Proprioception in Patients with Non-Specific Chronic Neck Pain.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Patients with non-specific chronic neck pain (NSCNP) exhibit sensorimotor disturbances, with proprioception impairment considered an important aspect. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of a novel inertial sensor-based electrogoniometer (KFORCE Sens) for cervical spine (CS) proprioception measurement in patients with NSCNP.

METHODS

The within-day intra-rater reliability of CS proprioception and its association with patient demographics and clinical status were examined in fifty-nine patients with NSCNP, aged between 25-65 years, recruited from primary care. CS proprioception was examined via angle reproduction, in angles set mid-range in the available CS range of motion (ROM) in each motion direction. The clinical status evaluation comprised the maximum and average pain intensity in the last week, disability, fear of movement/re-injury, catastrophizing, neck awareness, and CS-ROM. Reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of the measurement (SEM), and minimum detectable change (MDC). Pearson's R assessed between-measures associations.

RESULTS

CS proprioception reliability was good (ICC = 0.75-0.89), with low measurement error (SEM = 1.38-3.02° and MDC = 3.83-8.38°). Correlations between participants' CS proprioception and their clinical status or demographics were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

The reliability of CS proprioception assessment with the KFORCE Sens was good in a sample of mildly to moderately disabled patients with CNP and thus deemed suitable for further research in this field.