Proprioceptive Puzzle: Effects on Quantitative Sensory Tests and Body Awareness

NCT06559397 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: AtılımU-2
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background: Cervical proprioception, referring to the awareness of the head's position in space, plays a crucial role in maintaining postural control and preventing musculoskeletal injuries. While previous research has established the importance of cervical proprioception in motor function, its specific impact on body awareness and pain-related aspects remains less explored, particularly in healthy young individuals. Aim: This prospective cross-sectional study aims to investigate the impact of cervical proprioceptive error on body awareness, pressure pain threshold, pressure pain tolerance, conditioned pain modulation, and temporal summation in healthy young individuals. Methods: In asymptomatic participants, cervical proprioception will be assessed using the 'head position error test' in both right and left rotation directions with the CROM device. Participants will be then divided into two groups based on the presence of proprioceptive deviation (\>5°). Body awareness will beassessed using the 'Body Awareness Questionnaire,' while pressure pain threshold, pain tolerance, and temporal summation will be measured bilaterally with an algometer device (2 cm lateral to the C2 and C7 spinal processes, midpoint of the upper part of the trapezius, and over the temporomandibular joint) in both groups. Subsequently, the two groups will be compared using independent samples t-tests.

Conditions

Cervical Proprioceptive Error in Healthy Young Individuals

Keywords

Cervical proprioception; Joint position sense; Pain; Temporal summation; Mechanosensitivity; Conditioned pain modulation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Quantitative sensory testing

  Quantitative sensory testing including pain threshold, tolerance, conditioned pain modulation, and temporal summation will be assessed by pressure algometer. The "pain threshold" is the point at which a person first feels pain, the "pain tolerance" is the last point that a person can tolerate, and the "temporal summation" is the first painful threshold evaluated after 10 repeats of the pain threshold. Conditioned pain modulation is the modulation of pain perception under varying conditions. In the current study, a cold stimulus will be used.

  Immediately after the intervention

• Assessment of body awareness

  Body awareness will be assessed through a questionnaire, consisting of 18 items, divided into 4 subgroups aimed at determining the sensitivity level of normal or abnormal body composition (1. Changes during the body process, 2. Sleep-wake cycle, 3. Estimation of disease onset, 4. Prediction of bodily reactions). Participants are asked to rate each item on a scale of 1 to 7. The overall score is calculated, and a higher score indicates better body awareness. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire are reported to be high.

  Immediately after the intervention

Study Arms (2)

Proprioceptive deficit positive group

This group consists of young participants who exhibit a proprioceptive error in their cervical proprioception test. Proprioceptive error refers to an inaccurate perception of the head's position in space. In this study, participants with a deviation greater than 5 degrees during the test will be classified into this group.

Other: Assessment of cervical proprioception

Proprioceptive deficit negative goup

This group includes young participants who do not show any proprioceptive error in the cervical proprioception test. These participants accurately perceive the position of their head and thus do not have a proprioceptive deficit (less than 5 degrees)

Other: Assessment of cervical proprioception

Interventions

Assessment of cervical proprioception OTHER

Cervical proprioception will be assessed using the 'head position error test' in both right and left rotation directions with the CROM device. Participants will be then divided into two groups based on the presence of proprioceptive errors (\>5°).

Proprioceptive deficit negative goup; Proprioceptive deficit positive group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study involves healthy young participants aged between 18 and 25 years. The participants will be divided into two groups based on the presence of cervical proprioceptive deviation (greater than 5°) as measured by the 'head position error test' using a CROM device.

You may qualify if:

• \* Being between 18-25 years old

You may not qualify if:

• History of cervical spine injuries or disorders
• Chronic pain conditions or diagnosed musculoskeletal disorders
• Previous neck or spine surgeries
• Neurological or psychiatric conditions affecting proprioception or pain perception
• Use of medications influencing pain sensitivity or proprioception
• Pregnancy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Nagihan Acet: lead

Study Sites (1)

Atılım University

Ankara, Ankara, 06560, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (10)

• Revel M, Andre-Deshays C, Minguet M. Cervicocephalic kinesthetic sensibility in patients with cervical pain. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1991 Apr;72(5):288-91.

  PMID: 2009044 BACKGROUND

• Kulkarni V, Chandy MJ, Babu KS. Quantitative study of muscle spindles in suboccipital muscles of human foetuses. Neurol India. 2001 Dec;49(4):355-9.

  PMID: 11799407 BACKGROUND

• Peng B, Yang L, Li Y, Liu T, Liu Y. Cervical Proprioception Impairment in Neck Pain-Pathophysiology, Clinical Evaluation, and Management: A Narrative Review. Pain Ther. 2021 Jun;10(1):143-164. doi: 10.1007/s40122-020-00230-z. Epub 2021 Jan 12.

  PMID: 33464539 BACKGROUND

• Mehling WE, Gopisetty V, Daubenmier J, Price CJ, Hecht FM, Stewart A. Body awareness: construct and self-report measures. PLoS One. 2009;4(5):e5614. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0005614. Epub 2009 May 19.

  PMID: 19440300 BACKGROUND

• Yang J, Lee B, Kim C. Changes in proprioception and pain in patients with neck pain after upper thoracic manipulation. J Phys Ther Sci. 2015 Mar;27(3):795-8. doi: 10.1589/jpts.27.795. Epub 2015 Mar 31.

  PMID: 25931733 BACKGROUND

• Law EY, Chiu TT. Measurement of cervical range of motion (CROM) by electronic CROM goniometer: a test of reliability and validity. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2013;26(2):141-8. doi: 10.3233/BMR-2012-00358.

  PMID: 23640315 BACKGROUND

• Walton DM, Macdermid JC, Nielson W, Teasell RW, Chiasson M, Brown L. Reliability, standard error, and minimum detectable change of clinical pressure pain threshold testing in people with and without acute neck pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2011 Sep;41(9):644-50. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2011.3666. Epub 2011 Sep 1.

  PMID: 21885906 BACKGROUND

• Karaca, S. (2017). Vücut Farkındalığı Anketinin Türkçe uyarlaması: Geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması (Yayınlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi). Muğla Sıtkı Koçman Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Muğla.

  BACKGROUND

• Heisler AC, Song J, Dunlop DD, Wohlfahrt A, Bingham CO III, Bolster MB, Clauw DJ, Marder W, Phillips K, Neogi T, Lee YC. Association of Pain Centralization and Patient-Reported Pain in Active Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020 Aug;72(8):1122-1129. doi: 10.1002/acr.23994. Epub 2020 Jul 21.

  PMID: 31162824 BACKGROUND

• Acet N, Begen S. The proprioceptive puzzle: An observational study investigating the effects of cervical proprioceptive errors on quantitative sensory testing and body awareness in young individuals. PLoS One. 2025 Apr 21;20(4):e0321645. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0321645. eCollection 2025.

  PMID: 40257972 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Nagihan Acet

  Atılım University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Asst. Prof.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 14, 2024
• First Posted: August 19, 2024
• Study Start: September 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: January 1, 2025
• Study Completion: February 1, 2025
• Last Updated: November 25, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)