To investigate the influence of cervical SMC challenges during gait-related dynamic tasks on all task performance and symptoms in patients with CNP.

The goal of this observational study is to learn about the immediate effects of cervical sensorimotor challenges during gait-related dynamic tasks on all task performance and symptoms in patients with CNP .

The main question it aims to answer is:

Does adding sensorimotor challenges in chronic neck pain patient will affect balance and gait performance?

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy asymptomatic adults will not have any complaints of current pain and impairments of neuromusculoskeletal systems within the last 6 months.

• For patients with CNP

  • Pain was unilateral or bilateral between the superior nuchal line and 1st thoracic vertebra
  • Neck pain persisting for 3 months and above
  • Average pain intensity of last pain episode was between 2 and 8 based on the numeric rating scale (NRS).

Exclusion criteria:

◾For patients with CNP and healthy asymptomatic adults

• Acute or the first onset of neck pain
• Traumatic cause of pain
• Previous fracture or surgery of the spine
• Diagnosed cardiopulmonary diseases, for example, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary tuberculosis, asthma, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema
• Diagnosed gastrointestinal and abdominal conditions which may interfere daily activities within the past 6 months
• Medical conditions that may affect balance and study procedures (e.g. neurological diseases, vestibular disorders, malignant tumors)
• Metabolic diseases such as anemia and diabetes
• Smoking, plan to pregnant or in pregnancy
• Psychological disorders (affect questionnaire responses)
• Unable to walk independently
• Corrected visual abnormalities or individuals unable to wear contact lenses for vision correction due to the potential interference of wearing VR head-mounted display with glasses.

Patients with chronic neck pain are: (1) pain was unilateral or bilateral between the superior nuchal line and 1st thoracic vertebra, (2) neck pain persisting for 3 months and above, and (3) average pain intensity of last pain episode was between 2 and 8 based on the numeric rating scale (NRS).