Influence of Axial Load and a 45-Degree Flexion Head Position on Cervical Spinal Stiffness in Healthy Young Adults.

ABSTRACT: Background: Neck pain is a major cause of disability worldwide. Poor neck posture such as using a smartphone or work-related additional cervical axial load, such headgear of aviators, can cause neck pain. This study aimed at investigating the role of head posture or additional axial load on spinal stiffness, a proxy measure to assess cervical motor control. Methods: The posterior-to-anterior cervical spinal stiffness of 49 young healthy male military employees [mean (SD) age 20 ± 1 years] was measured in two head positions: neutral and 45-degree flexed head position and two loading conditions: with and without additional 3 kg axial load. Each test condition comprised three trials. Measurements were taken at three cervical locations, i.e., spinous processes C2 and C7 and mid-c

SUBMITTER: Hofstetter L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8733818 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature