Age-related kinematic performance should be considered during fast head-neck rotation target task in individuals aged from 8 to 85 years old

Kinematic behavior during fast cervical rotations is a useful parameter for assessing sensorimotor control performances in neck-pain patients. However, the influence of age in asymptomatic individuals from children to older people still needs to be explored. Our aim was to assess the impact of age on sensorimotor control performance of the head-neck with execution time and kinematic variables (time of task, mean speed/acceleration/deceleration, overshoots (OSs), minimum/maximum speed) during standardized fast rotation target task using the DidRen Laser test. A total of 80 volunteers were stratified in four different age-groups: Children (8–14 years): n = 16; Young Adults (18–35 years): n = 29; Old Adults (36–64 years): n = 18; Seniors (65–85 years): n = 17. Results showed that to perform the test, Children were slower (69.0 (60.6–87.3)s) compared to Young Adults (49.6 (45.6–55.6)s) with p < 0.001, and Old Adults (51.7 (48.4–55.8)s) with p < 0.001. It was also slower in Seniors (57 (52.3–67.6)s) compared to Young Adults with p < 0.013. Mean speed was slower in Children (9.4 ± 2.3 °s(−1)) and Seniors (10.6 ± 2.4 °s(−1)) compared to Young Adults (13.7 ± 1.9 °s(−1)) with p < 0.001 and Old Adults (13.3 ± 2.4 °s(−1)) with p < 0.001. Mean acceleration was slower for Children (8.4(7.6–10.2) °s(−2)) compared to Young Adults (11.1 (8.8–15.3) °s(−2)) with p < 0.016, and Old Adults (12.0(8.4–15.3) °s(−2)) with p < 0.015. Mean deceleration was slower for Children (−1.9(−2.6–1.4) °s(−2)) compared to Young Adults (−2.9(−3.7–2.5) °s(−2)) with p < 0.001 and Old Adults (−3.2(−3.7–2.3) °s(−2)) with p < 0.003. The DidRen Laser test allows us to discriminate age-specific performances for mean speed, acceleration and deceleration. Seniors and Children needed to be slower to become as precise as Young Adults and Old Adults. No difference was observed for OSs which assesses accuracy of movement. Age should therefore be considered as a key parameter when analyzing execution time and kinematic results during DidRen Laser test. These normative data can therefore guide clinicians in the assessment of subjects with neck pain.