Journal de physiothérapie et de réadaptation physique

Chronic Neck Pain Assessment using Multi-Frequency Bioimpedance

Abstract

Dilay Kesgin Fener, Else Marie Bartels, Vibeke Sodring Elbrond and Adrian Paul Harrison

Scope: Chronic neck pain (CNP) is a disabling condition where the cause is often unknown, making treatment difficult. Muscle involvement is suspected in most cases, and assessment of muscle condition and changes following treatment may be possible with multi-frequency bioimpedance (mfBIA). Our aim was to test mfBIA as an assessment method of possible involvement of the neck, back and other related muscles in two CNP patients, prior to and following physiotherapy treatment with AtlasBalans.
Methods: mfBIA measurements were carried out pre-treatment on m. sternocleidomastoideus, m. trapezius, upper back, lower back, m. vastus lateralis, and m. gastrocnemius. Centre frequency (fc), extracellular Resistance (Re) and intracellular Resistance (Ri), Impedance (Z), Resistance (R) and Reactance (Xc) were measured, and Phase Angle (PA) and Membrane Capacitance (Mc) were calculated, using ImpediMed Inc software. AtlasBalans treatment was carried out on m. sternocleidomastoideus and m. trapezius with following mfBIA measurement of these. Relationship between Z, R, fc, Ri and Mc was studied pre and post-treatment.
Results: The Z and R data suggested no great degree of inflammation or overuse of the measured muscles. The fc data indicate muscle involvement with elevated resting tension and imbalance between the left and right sides. Ri and Mc confirm the interpretation of imbalance, indicating an elevated metabolic activity in some muscles.
Conclusion: mfBIA seems a promising method to follow muscle involvement in chronic neck pain patients. AtlasBalans treatment did not show any clear indication as being an efficient form of treatment to relieve muscle tension in CNP patients.