Neck reflex points: a new clinical test? : Prevalence in two cohorts and its covariates
Background: Neck reflex points (NRPs) are 2 × 6 potentially tender areas of the neck, denominated NRP-C0 to NRP-C7. They are different from muscular trigger points and become tender in response to chronic trigeminal irritation. NRP examination has a high inter-rater reproducibility. We investigated...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
30 September 2024
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| In: |
Diagnostics
Year: 2024, Volume: 14, Issue: 19, Pages: 1-15 |
| ISSN: | 2075-4418 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/diagnostics14192185 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14192185 Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/14/19/2185 
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| Author Notes: | Stefan Weinschenk, Axel Gerhardt, Christine Wibmer, Thomas Strowitzki and Manuel Feisst |
| Summary: | Background: Neck reflex points (NRPs) are 2 × 6 potentially tender areas of the neck, denominated NRP-C0 to NRP-C7. They are different from muscular trigger points and become tender in response to chronic trigeminal irritation. NRP examination has a high inter-rater reproducibility. We investigated the prevalence of NRPs in two populations to investigate their usefulness as a clinical test for trigeminal irritation. Methods: In total, 165 patients with chronic pain and 431 students were examined for NRP tenderness using a three-level pain scale: absent pain (PI = 0), mild tenderness (PI = 1), or marked tenderness (PI = 2). Results: In patients, we found more tender NRPs than in the student group (p < 0.001), and on the left side, more tender NRPs were found in NRP-C0-C4. Left and right NRPs appeared independently (kappa 0.1-0.4), except for NRP-C7 (kappa 0.55). Females had more tender NRPs (p < 0.001). Tenderness was independent of age, BMI, and pre-existing diseases. Conclusions: NRP tenderness occurs more frequently in patients than in students, independent from potential covariates. Our results, together with previous findings, support the use of NRP examination as a clinical test for chronic silent inflammation of the trigeminal region. These data provide a base for further studies investigating correlations of NRPs with clinical findings. |
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| Item Description: | Gesehen am 08.04.2025 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 2075-4418 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/diagnostics14192185 |