ArticleBMC geriatrics2025
Influence of cervical muscle strength and pain severity on functional balance and limits of stability in elderly individuals with chronic nonspecific neck pain: a cross-sectional study.
Article in BMC geriatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07477145 (Effect of Body Mind Exercises and Specific Neck Exercises in Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain), which is not on this map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Effect of Body Mind Exercises and Specific Neck Exercises in Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain
Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Physical measures of physical functioning as prognostic factors in predicting outcomes for neck and thoracic pain: a systematic review.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2025Pooled it
- Electrical Dry Needling and Therapeutic Exercise Versus Therapeutic Exercise in Patients With Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR research protocols · 2026Article
- Cervical sensorimotor impairments and neck pain severity in type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional mediation study.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2026Article
- The psychometric properties of the 3-m backward walk test in people with Migraine.Irish journal of medical science · 2026Article
- Physical function, daily activities, and spinal pain in the elderly: A cross-sectional study.PloS one · 2026Article
- The impact of fall history on instability, disability, and anxiety in patients with chronic neck pain.Turkish journal of medical sciences · 2026Article
- Clinically feasible biomechanical assessment of lower limb strength and postural stability in adults aged 50-75 years with moderate knee osteoarthritis: implications for technology-enabled healthy aging.Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2026Article
- Trends, Hotspots, and Future Directions of Research on Pain in Dystonia: A Bibliometric Analysis.Brain and behavior · 2025Article
- A pilot investigation of muscle conditioning as a tool to study neck proprioception and vestibular reweighting during head to trunk movement.Scientific reports · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
13 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundChronic nonspecific neck pain (CNSNP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder, particularly in the elderly, leading to reduced cervical muscle strength, impaired functional balance, and decreased postural stability. This study investigated the correlation between cervical muscle strength, functional balance, and limits of stability (LOS) in elderly individuals with CNSNP. Additionally, it assessed the moderating effect of pain severity on the relationship between cervical muscle strength and these balance outcomes.
methodsA prospective study included a total of 186 participants, including 93 with CNSNP and 93 asymptomatic individuals, were recruited. Cervical flexor and extensor muscle strength were assessed using an ergoFET hand-held dynamometer. Functional balance was measured using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, while LOS were evaluated using the Iso-Free machine.
resultsIndividuals with CNSNP exhibited significantly lower cervical flexor strength (32.45 ± 5.67 N vs. 40.75 ± 5.20 N, p < 0.001) and extensor strength (28.30 ± 6.05 N vs. 36.90 ± 5.90 N, p < 0.001) compared to asymptomatic individuals. Functional balance was also poorer in the CNSNP group, with lower BBS scores (47.85 ± 4.20 vs. 53.65 ± 3.85, p < 0.001) and slower TUG times (11.30 ± 2.05 s vs. 8.45 ± 1.80 s, p < 0.001). Cervical muscle strength showed moderate to strong positive correlations with LOS (r = 0.56 to 0.62, p < 0.001) and BBS (r = 0.48 to 0.53, p < 0.001). Pain severity significantly moderated the relationship between cervical muscle strength and functional balance (β = 0.20, p = 0.045) as well as LOS (β = 0.22, p = 0.038), suggesting that higher pain levels diminish the positive effects of muscle strength on balance.
conclusionCervical muscle strength plays a crucial role in maintaining functional balance and postural stability in elderly individuals with CNSNP. Pain severity moderates the relationship between cervical muscle strength and balance outcomes, emphasizing the importance of integrating muscle strengthening and pain management in rehabilitation programs for elderly individuals with CNSNP to optimize postural control and minimize fall risk.
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