Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Sep;36(9):505-512.
doi: 10.1589/jpts.36.505. Epub 2024 Sep 5.

The effect of non-pathological neck pain on hand grip strength in healthcare practitioners across three different head positions: a cross-sectional study design

Salem F Alatawi  1
Affiliations

The effect of non-pathological neck pain on hand grip strength in healthcare practitioners across three different head positions: a cross-sectional study design

Salem F Alatawi. J Phys Ther Sci. 2024 Sep.

Abstract

[Purpose] To determine how different head-neck positions (HNPs) influence the hand grip strength (HGS) of medical personnel with non-pathological neck pain (NPNP). [Participants and Methods] A cross-sectional study recruited 46 healthcare professionals: 21 (45.7%) with NPNP and 25 (54.3%) without. A dynamometer, cervical range of motion, and visual analogue scale measured HGS, HNPs, and NPNPs. Participants were instructed to squeeze the handgrip dynamometer handle in 90-degree elbow flexion as much as possible from a seated position to measure HGS from the neutral head position (NHP), 40° head neck flexion (HFP40°), and 30° head neck extension (HEP30°). [Results] The mean HGS for the dominant hand in NHP, HFP40°, and HEP30° was 29.27 kg (± 9.03), 27.24 kg (± 9.08), and 26.37 kg (± 9.32), while for the non-dominant hand it was 27.45 kg (± 9.62), 25.23 kg (± 9.36), and 24.61 kg (± 10.17). There was no significant correlation between HNPs and HGS. However, the only significant difference was between dominant HGS in the NHP and non-dominant HGS in the HEP30°. [Conclusion] NPNP had no significant influence on HGS in any of the three HNPs for either hand. Future studies should include other HNPs and other potential variables such as age, gender, weight, and pain intensity.

Keywords: Hand grip strength; Head-neck positions; Non-pathological neck pain.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The author declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
The data collecting approach.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Data collection tools employed in the study; (A), a Jamar hydraulic hand dynamometer was used to collect hand grip strength (HGS) data. (B), the cervical range of motion (CROM) was positioned on the nasal bridge and ears and secured to the head with a Velcro strap.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
The various hand grip strength (HGS) measurements in three different neck positions: A, when the neck was in a neutral position; B, when the neck was extended (30°), and C, when the neck was flexed (40°).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Coulter ID, Crawford C, Vernon H, et al. : Manipulation and mobilization for treating chronic nonspecific neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis for an appropriateness panel. Pain Physician, 2019, 22: E55–E70. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Hidalgo B, Hall T, Bossert J, et al. : The efficacy of manual therapy and exercise for treating non-specific neck pain: a systematic review. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil, 2017, 30: 1149–1169. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Feng B, Liang Q, Wang Y, et al. : Prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms of the neck and upper extremity among dentists in China. BMJ Open, 2014, 4: e006451. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Şahin T, Ayyildiz A, Gencer-Atalay K, et al. : Pain symptoms in COVID-19. Am J Phys Med Rehabil, 2021, 100: 307–312. - PubMed
    1. Kerzhner O, Berla E, Har-Even M, et al. : Consistency of inconsistency in long-COVID-19 pain symptoms persistency: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pain Pract, 2024, 24: 120–159. - PubMed