Changes of the Head Control Ability in Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

This study aims to compare the head control ability in terms of the cervicocephalic kinesthetic sensibility between the elderly with and without cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Thirty CSM patients and thirty healthy elderly were recruited to perform the maximal neck extension as well as the maximal cervical range of motion (ROM) and head reposition tasks in neck flexion, extension, right and left rotation. Three measurements of the reposition accuracy were analyzed, including the constant error (CE), variable error (VE) and root mean square error (RMSE) of the reposition movements. Independent t test was used to investigate the difference of all measurements between the groups. CSM group showed less maximal neck strength and smaller cervical ROM compared with the healthy group with significant difference in cervical extension (p < 0.001) and right rotation (p < 0.05). During the reposition task, the CE of all movements showed significant difference between groups. The CSM group trended to show greater VE in all directions. The RMSE were greater in CSM group with significant difference in cervical extension and right rotation (p < 0.05). This study demonstrated that the CSM patients suffer from poor head control compared with that in the age-matched elderly. Those findings could help to facilitate the rehabilitation program targeting on the treatment of cervical problem in CSM patients.