A novel use of inertial sensors to measure the craniocervical flexion range of motion associated to the craniocervical flexion test: an observational study.

Only asymptomatic, young university adults were tested, so the findings do not show how patients with neck pain, headache, temporomandibular disorders, or older adults would perform. The study did not use electromyography to confirm whether superficial neck muscles were compensating, so some participants may have used incorrect strategies. Between-person variability was large, and the standard error of measurement was too high relative to the small differences between consecutive pressure stages, so standard range-of-motion targets could not be set. The sensor was tested only during the supine craniocervical flexion test, not during functional postures or as a treatment outcome measure. The paper states 56 participants but reports 18 males and 23 females, so the sex breakdown is unclear.

Do not read the reliability result as proof that the sensor improves craniocervical flexion test performance or neck pain treatment. The study measured only 56 asymptomatic young adults, did not test patients, and found too much between-person variability to set standard range-of-motion targets for each pressure stage.