Effect of Natural Apophyseal Glides (NAGs) on Cervical Joint Position Sense and Gravity Sway

• Published in: Physical Therapy Japan Vol. 51; no. 4; pp. 112 - 118
• Main Authors: Abduh, Hardianty Andi Munawarah, Kuruma, Hironobu, Firdausy, Aufa Miftah, Sato, Yuto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japanese Society of Physical Therapy 20.08.2024; 一般社団法人日本理学療法学会連合
• Subjects: Center of gravity sway; Cervical joint position sense; Natural apophyseal glides (NAGs); Natural apophyseal glides（NAGs）; Relocation test; Vibration stimulation; 振動刺激; 重心動揺; 頚部関節位置覚
• ISSN: 0289-3770; 2189-602X
• DOI: 10.15063/rigaku.12444

Objective: Neck pain is reported to be associated with decreased cervical Joint Position Sense (JPS) and balance impairment. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Natural Apophyseal Glides (NAGs) and exercise therapy on JPS and center of gravity sway.Method: The subjects were 29 healthy adult males and females randomly divided into three groups: the NAGs+Motor Control Exercise (MCE) group, the cervical vibration stimulation+MCE group, and the Sham NAGs+MCE group. The measures were the error value of the JPS by relocation test, Cervical Range of Motion, a rectangular area in the gravity sway test, and the neck lateral flexion angle during the neck rotation condition of the gravity sway test, which was measured before and after the intervention. Result: The results showed that the NAGs+MCE group had significantly lower JPS error values for both the right and left rotations. In comparison, the cervical vibration stimulation+MCE group had significantly lower values only for the right rotation. However, there were no significant differences among the groups in the items of the gravity sway test.Conclusion: This suggests that intervention with NAGs improves JPS but has no effect on gravity sway.