Cervical Spine Assessment Using Passive and Active Mobilization Recorded Through an Optical Motion Capture

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Kinesiology
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Accurate measurement of cervical range of motion (ROM) is crucial for diagnosing and managing various musculoskeletal conditions.
• Existing methods for assessing cervical ROM may lack precision or comprehensive evaluation across different movement planes.
• Developing a reliable and standardized protocol is essential for consistent clinical assessment and research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a protocol for evaluating cervical range of motion (ROM).
• To combine passive mobilization (PM) and active mobilization (AM) techniques for a comprehensive assessment.
• To utilize an optical motion capture system for precise and objective ROM measurement.

Main Methods:

• A protocol involving passive and active mobilization was applied to 24 asymptomatic participants.
• Cervical ROM was recorded in sagittal, frontal, and transversal planes using an optical motion capture system.
• Reliability of the PM and AM techniques, individually and combined, was analyzed across multiple sessions.

Main Results:

• The developed protocol demonstrated high reliability for most cervical range of motion indices.
• Active mobilization (AM) showed higher reliability than passive mobilization (PM) for specific movements like flexion, extension, and lateralization.
• No statistically significant differences were found between passive mobilization (PM) and active mobilization (AM) techniques in ROM measurements.

Conclusions:

• The combined passive and active mobilization protocol offers a reliable method for assessing cervical ROM.
• The optical motion capture system provides accurate and consistent measurements, supporting clinical utility.
• Standardized protocols incorporating evaluator, instrumentation, and patient factors can enhance the evaluation of functional capacity and clinical outcomes.