Upper limb muscle strength and neuromuscular coordination and other factors as determinants of kinesiophobia in people with cervical and cervicothoracic spine dysfunction

The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of neuromuscular coordination disorders and upper limb muscle strength in people with functional disorders of the cervical and cervicothoracic spine. A total of 407 participants took part in the study. The level of kinesiophobia was assessed using the Tampa scale. For cervical spine dysfunction, the pain was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the cervical disability index (NDI). Neuromuscular control was tested using the Deep Cervical Neck Flexor test with the Stabilizer device. Upper limb muscle strength was measured using a dynamometer test. The data obtained revealed a correlation between higher Tampa scale scores and most of the variables assessed. A positive correlation between age (rho = 0.27; p < 0.001), pain (rho = 0.43; p < 0.001), and NDI (rho = 0.43; p < 0.001) was registered. A negative relationship was found between neuromuscular coordination (rho = 0.41; p < 0.001) and muscle strength of most muscles(rho - 0.14 to -0.28, p < 0.01). Higher Tampa scale values correlate with poorer neuromuscular coordination, older age, pain, weaker NDI score, and strength of some upper limb muscles in the cervical and cervicothoracic spine functional impairment group. There is no correlation between kinesiophobia presence and gender.