EFFECT OF CHRONIC NECK PAIN ON BALANCE, CERVICAL PROPRIOCEPTION, HEAD POSTURE, AND DEEP NECK FLEXOR MUSCLE ENDURANCE IN THE ELDERLY

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of chronic nonspecificneck pain on balance, cervical proprioception, head posture, and deep neck flexor muscle endurance in the elderly. Materials and Method: Elderly participants aged >= 65 years with chronic neck pain (n=16; 9 females) and without neck pain [n=16; 8 females (control group)] were included in this study. Balance function of the participants was assessed using the SportKAT 550 kinesthetic balance device, one-leg standing test, and timed up and go test. The jointposition error test was used to evaluate cervical proprioception. Head posture was assessed by craniovertebral angle measurement, and muscle endurance was evaluated by the deepneckflexorendurancetest. Results: All balance tests results, jointpositionerrorvalue, and deep neck flexor muscle endurance were better in the control group than in the neck pain group (p<0.05). No difference was observed between the neck pain and control groups with respect to the craniovertebral angle value (p>0.05). Conclusion: Our resultsindicate that chronic neck pain negatively affects the balance, cervical proprioception, and muscle endurance in the elderly. Our study results will guide health professionals to plan appropriate treatment strategies for the elderly with neck pain.