Abstract:

Objective Chronic cervical pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal symptoms observed worldwide. In our study, we aimed to show the thickness changes, if any, in the neck region and muscle groups adjacent to the neck region in ultrasonography (USG) of patients with unilateral chronic neck pain. We also aimed to show the change in the pain threshold of the muscles in pressure algometry in a separate patient group. Material and Method Patients with unilateral neck pain, disc herniation on cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), radiculopathy findings proven on electromyography (EMG), and pain for 12 weeks or longer (fitting the definition of chronic neck pain) were included in the study. The study was conducted prospectively. A total of 32 patients (25 women, 7 men) were included. Visual analog scale (VAS) test, pressure algometer measurement and neck disability test were used to evaluate the pain of the patients. Masseter, sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and trapezius muscle thicknesses of the patients were measured by US. In addition, pain thresholds of all three muscles were determined by pressure algometer. Results The mean age of the patients was 49.71 ± 11.73 years. No statistically significant difference was observed for the pain threshold levels of SCM, trapezius and masseter muscles on the side with and without pain (p = 0.645 p = 0.386 p = 0.545, respectively). No statistically significant difference was observed for SCM, trapezius and masseter muscle thicknesses on the pain and non-pain side (p = 0.76 p = 0.563 p = 0.603, respectively). Conclusion There was no statistically significant difference in pain thresholds for all 3 muscles (trapezius, sternocleidomastoid muscle, and masseter muscle) worked on the pain and non-pain side in the patient with unilateral chronic neck pain. In the measurement of muscle thickness by US, no statistically significant difference was found for the side with and without pain for all 3 muscles (trapezius, sternocleidomastoid muscle and masseter muscle).

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