J Rehabil Med 2008; 40: 426–432

ORIGINAL REPORT

ALTERED INTERPRETATION OF NECK PROPRIOCEPTIVE SIGNALS IN PERSONS WITH SUBCLINICAL RECURRENT NECK PAIN Isabelle Paulus, PT and Simon Brumagne, PhD, PT From the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, K. U. Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

Objective: To evaluate whether subjects with subclinical recurrent neck pain have an altered interpretation of neck proprioceptive signals. Design: A comparative group design. Subjects: Twelve subjects with recurrent neck pain and 12 control subjects. Methods: The shoulder, head, trunk and whole-body position were measured under the following conditions: active and passive elevation and depression of the right shoulder and vibration of the trapezius muscle. Results: During passive shoulder movements both groups moved their head in the opposite direction (p