The impact of subclinical neck pain and laterality on vertical goal directed upper limb movements

Subclinical neck pain (SCNP) is a subset of the recurrent neck pain population for which individuals have not received treatment. Individuals with SCNP have been shown to have altered cerebellar processing. The cerebellum integrates sensorimotor information to refine and update internal models necessary for reaching movements. The impact of SCNP on sensorimotor integration and motor behavior has not been fully elucidated in the context of goal-directed reaching movements. Therefore, our study investigated the role of SCNP on these processes by comparing upper limb reaching movements to controls with the dominant and non-dominant hands using light and heavy styli in the vertical plane. The results show that those with SCNP have quicker reaction times and end their primary movement closer to the target compared to controls. This is likely to allow for greater central visual processing, thus illustrating the tendency for those with SCNP to rely more on visual feedback in order to compensate for an altered body schema.