Comparison of Manual Assessment of Cervical Segmental Motion With Musculoskeletal Ultrasound

A cross-sectional construct validity study was conducted to investigate the relationship between clinician-rated cervical passive intervertebral motion (PIVM) testing and ultrasound quantification of cervical interfacet motion. The study was designed to determine whether clinical classifications of cervical segmental mobility correspond to objectively quantified cervical intersegmental movement.

PIVM testing represents a clinician's subjective assessment of cervical segmental movement based on perceived excursion, resistance to motion, and end-feel. In contrast, dynamic musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSKUS) was used to objectively quantify cervical interfacet motion by measuring changes in interfacet distance between standardized cervical positions. Construct validity was evaluated by examining the relationship between these two measurement approaches.

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Key information

Conditions

Neck Pain Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Florida Gulf Coast University Marieb Hall 101

Fort Myers, Florida, 33965, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

between 18 and 65 years old
able to read English to provide proper consent

Exclusion criteria

current neck pain (>2/10 on a numerical pain rating scale)
cervical radiculopathy, previous cervical spine surgery
known cervical fracture or instability
vertebrobasilar insufficiency
systemic inflammatory disease affecting the cervical spine
pregnancy, traumatic brain injury, concussion
or any condition that contraindicated cervical manual examination or ultrasound imaging.

Treatment and study plan

Passive Intervertebral Motion testing

Diagnostic Test

Manual assessment of the interfacet motion at C5-C6 facet joint

Primary outcomes

Interfacet motion

Time frame: immediate following manual assessment

Interfacet motion measured with MSK Ultrasound

Secondary outcomes

Passive Intervertebral motion assessment

Time frame: immediate after primary outcome measure

Manual assessment of motion

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Florida Gulf Coast University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Construct Validity of Manual Assessment of Cervical Segmental Motion: A Comparison With Musculoskeletal Ultrasound-Derived Cervical Interfacet Motion

Important dates

Study start: 2025
Primary completion: 2026
Study completion: 2026
First posted: Jul 23, 2026
Registry last updated: Jul 27, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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Completed