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The effects of subclinical neck pain on sensorimotor integration following a complex motor pursuit task

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Abstract

Recurrent subclinical neck pain (SCNP) may be associated with neural plastic changes in sensory processing and sensorimotor integration (SMI); however, its impact on motor learning has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate whether SCNP alters neural markers of SMI during a complex motor acquisition task as compared to a healthy control group. Peripheral N9, spinal N13, brainstem N18, and cortical N20, P25, N24 and N30 early somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were recorded following median nerve stimulation for 24 participants (12 control and 12 SCNP) before and after a 10-min tracing motor task intervention. Retention was assessed 24–48 h later. Significant amplitude differences were observed for both N18 and N24 SEP waveforms between groups, indicating there may be a difference in SMI due to altered afferent input as a result of SCNP. Accuracy increased significantly for both groups post-motor training; however, at retention only the control group showed an additional increase in accuracy. Both N18 and N24 SEP peaks are linked with cerebellar pathways, suggesting that SCNP impacts these connections. Significant correlations between these peaks and performance data were also seen. The differential changes in neurophysiological markers of SMI seen in SCNP suggest that SEPs have the potential to be used as an early screening tool for those at risk of having maladaptive neural plastic changes in response to motor training as a result of SCNP.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the following organizations for support and funding: Australian Spinal Research Foundation, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Canada Foundation for Innovation, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship Fund for scholarship support for Danielle Andrew. The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, ON, L1H 7K4, Canada

    Danielle Andrew, Paul Yielder & Bernadette Murphy

  2. Centre for Chiropractic Research, New Zealand College of Chiropractic, 6 Harrison Road Mt Wellington, Newmarket, PO Box 112-044, Auckland, 1149, New Zealand

    Heidi Haavik

Authors
  1. Danielle Andrew
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  2. Paul Yielder
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  3. Heidi Haavik
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  4. Bernadette Murphy
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Correspondence to Bernadette Murphy.

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Andrew, D., Yielder, P., Haavik, H. et al. The effects of subclinical neck pain on sensorimotor integration following a complex motor pursuit task. Exp Brain Res 236, 1–11 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-017-5103-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-017-5103-4

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