A novel instrument to examine the cervical range of motion of healthy Vietnamese adults

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate a novel measurement instrument for recording cervical spine range of motion (ROM) in healthy Vietnamese adults at the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Rehabilitation - Occupational Diseases. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2023 to May 2024, involving 480 healthy volunteers aged 18- 59 years who met the inclusion criteria. Their cervical ROM was measured in six directions (flexion, extension, left-side bending, right-side bending, left rotation and right rotation) using novel measurement the instrument (ROMIX), with data analysed by age, gender, and measurement time. Statistically significant differences (p<0.05) in ROM were observed across age groups, indicating decreased ROM with increasing age. However, no significant differences (p>0.05) were found between genders or measurement times. Thus, the novel instrument provides reliable ROM outcomes, highlighting age-related declines in normative ROM without gender or temporal variations. This study has received support from Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) under the project, conducted from 2024 to 2025 (Project No. 2021- 00020-3).