Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain and Quality of Life

Clinical goniometer will be used to measure the flexion, extension, lateral flexion and rotation range of motion of the cervical spine.

In order to obtain objective data, maximal isometric muscle strength of the cervical region muscles will be measured with a Lafayette brand portable dynamometer. During the measurements, participants are asked to generate maximum force against the portable dynamometer device throughout the test (3-5 seconds).

Joint position sense will be evaluated in four directions: left rotation, right rotation, extension and flexion with the Cervical Joint Position Sense Test. A total of ten measurements will be made, the first four for trial purposes. The average of the last six measurements will be taken for each direction.

Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) will be used to assess depression symptoms. The scale consists of 21 items, each of which is scored from 0 to 3. Higher scores indicate the severity of depression (1-10 points = normal, 11-16 points = moderate mood disturbance, 17-20 points = clinical depression, 21-30 points = moderate depression, 31-40 points = severe depression, 41-63 points = severe depression).

The participants' quality of life will be assessed with the Short Form Health Survey -36 Quality of Life Scale. The scale consists of 36 statements and has 8 subheadings (physical function, pain, mental status, physical role limitation, emotional role limitation, vitality, social function and general perception of health). As the total score increases, the quality of life also increases. Scores for these scales are standardized into values ranging from 0 to 100 with 50 representing average health.

The participants' sleep quality will be assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The scale consists of seven components (subjective sleep quality, time it takes to fall asleep, sleep duration, sleep disorders, use of medication for sleep, habitual efficiency of sleep and daily life dysfunction). Each component is valued between 0-5 points. The total score is 0-21 points (<5 points = good sleep quality, >5 points disturbed sleep quality).

Neck Disability Questionnaire will be used to evaluate disability due to neck pain. The questionnaire consists of 10 questions. The questionnaire evaluates the intensity of pain in the neck region, difficulty in personal care and work, headache, pain level while reading, lifting performance, driving, difficulty level in sleeping and leisure activities. Each question is evaluated with 0-5 points and increasing score is associated with increasing disability. A high total score indicates that the individual's neck disability rate increases. (0-20 points = minimal disability, 21-40 points = moderate disability, 41-60 points = severe disability, 61-80 points = disability, 81-100 points = bedridden