Association between somatosensory, motor and psychological variables by levels of disability in patients with cervicogenic dizziness

Cervicogenic dizziness is a musculoskeletal disorder mainly characterized by dizziness associated with neck pain. The aim of this study was to assess the association between somatosensory, motor and psychological variables by levels of disability due to dizziness in patients with cervicogenic dizziness. A total of 64 patients were classified into two groups according to the presence of higher and lower levels of disability due to dizziness. The degree of disability due to dizziness, the magnitude of chronic pain, catastrophizing and kinesiophobia were evaluated by self-reports. The cervical active range of motion and the pressure pain thresholds were also assessed. The psychosocial variables showed significant differences. Higher values were found in the group with the highest level of disability due to dizziness (d = 0.80). Regarding motor variables, some differences were found in extension (d = 0.52) and in right rotation cervical movement (d = 0.90), with lower values in the group with greater disability due to dizziness. No differences were observed in the somatosensory variables (p > .05). In the group with lower levels of disability due to dizziness, negative associations were found with the range of cervical motion and positive associations were found with kinesiophobia. Our results suggest that levels of disability due to dizziness could be an important factor to consider in patients with cervicogenic dizziness. The influence of psychological factors and some ranges of cervical movement should be considered clinically.