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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2024 Feb;83(Suppl 1):48-54.
doi: 10.1007/s00393-022-01295-1. Epub 2022 Dec 2.

Effect of cervical stabilization exercises on cervical position error in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: a randomized controlled pilot study

Hande Ece Oz  1 , Gozde Duran  2 , Deniz Bayraktar  3 , Mete Kara  1 , Dilek Solmaz  1 , Servet Akar  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effect of cervical stabilization exercises on cervical position error in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: a randomized controlled pilot study

Hande Ece Oz et al. Z Rheumatol. 2024 Feb.

Abstract
in English, German

Objective: To investigate the effect of cervical stabilization exercises on cervical position error in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Materials and methods: Thirty-nine patients with axSpA were randomly allocated to two groups as exercise group (n = 20, 11 males) and control group (n = 19, 12 males). The exercise group performed a progressive home-based cervical stabilization exercise program, while the control group did not receive any exercise intervention. To control exercise adherence and progression, text messages and video instructions were delivered via a freeware and cross-platform messaging service on a weekly basis. All patients were evaluated regarding physical characteristics, disease activity (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index), functional status (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index), and spinal mobility (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index). Cervical position error was evaluated in flexion, extension, rotation, and lateral flexion directions. All evaluations were performed at baseline and after 6 weeks.

Results: Baseline physical and disease-related characteristics were similar between the groups (p > 0.05). After 6 weeks, significant improvements were observed in cervical position error in all directions in the exercise group (p < 0.05), whereas no improvements were detected in the control group (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: A 6-week home-based cervical stabilization exercise program seems to be beneficial for improving impaired cervical proprioception in patients with axSpA.

Zusammenfassung: ZIEL: Ziel der Arbeit war es, die Wirkung von Übungen zur Stabilisierung der Halswirbelsäule auf deren zervikaler Positionsfehler bei Patienten mit axialer Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) zu untersuchen.

Material und methoden: Dazu wurden 39 Patienten mit axSpA randomisiert in 2 Gruppen eingeteilt, eine Übungsgruppe (n = 20, 11 m.) und eine Kontrollgruppe (n = 19, 12 m.). Die Übungsgruppe führte ein stufenweise aufbauendes Heimprogramm zur Halswirbelsäulenstabilisierung durch, während die Kontrollgruppe keine Übungsintervention erhielt. Um die Einhaltung der Übungen und ihren Fortschritt zu kontrollieren, wurden wöchentlich Textnachrichten und Videoanleitungen über einen freien und plattformübergreifenden Messagerdienst gesendet. Sämtliche Patienten wurden hinsichtlich körperlicher Merkmale, Krankheitsaktivität (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index), funktionellem Status (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index), und Wirbelsäulenbeweglichkeit (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index) untersucht. Zervikale Positionsfehler der Halswirbelsäule wurden in Flexion, Extension, Rotation und Lateralflexion beurteilt. Alle Untersuchungen wurden zu Anfang der Studie und nach 6 Wochen durchgeführt.

Ergebnisse: Die körperlichen und krankheitsbezogenen Merkmale zu Anfang waren zwischen den beiden Gruppen ähnlich (p > 0,05). Nach 6 Wochen wurden in der Übungsgruppe signifikante Verbesserungen der zervikalen Positionsfehler der Halswirbelsäule in allen Richtungen festgestellt (p < 0,05), während in der Kontrollgruppe keine Verbesserungen zu beobachten waren (p > 0,05).

Schlussfolgerung: Ein 6‑wöchiges häusliches Übungsprogramm zur Stabilisierung der Halswirbelsäule scheint vorteilhaft zu sein, um die beeinträchtigte zervikale Propriozeption bei Patienten mit axSpA zu verbessern.

Keywords: Exercise; Functional status; Neck; Proprioception; Spondyloarthritis.

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Conflict of interest statement

H.E. Oz, G. Duran, D. Bayraktar, M. Kara, D. Solmaz, and S. Akar declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of the study
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Cervical stabilization exercise samples (red arrows to this direction)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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