Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine (대한물리의학회지)

The Korean Society of Physical Medicine (대한물리의학회)
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Comparison of Cross-sectional Areas using Computerized Tomography of the Cervical Muscles between Straight Neck Patients and Normal Participants during Cranio-cervical Flexion Exercise

컴퓨터 단층촬영을 통한 깊은목굽힘운동 수행 시 일자목 환자와 정상인에게 나타나는 목근육의 단면적 비교

  • Park, Joo-Hee (Department of Physical Therapy, College of Software and Digital Healthcare Convergence, Yonsei University) ;
  • Lim, One-Bin (Department of Physical Therapy, College of Software and Digital Healthcare Convergence, Yonsei University)
  • 박주희 (연세대학교 소프트웨어디지털헬스케어융합대학 물리치료학과) ;
  • 임원빈 (연세대학교 소프트웨어디지털헬스케어융합대학 물리치료학과)
  • Received : 2021.05.07
  • Accepted : 2021.06.14
  • Published : 2021.08.31
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Abstract

PURPOSE: This study compared the cross-sectional areas (CSA) of the cervical muscles of straight neck patients and normal participants during a craniocervical flexion exercise (CCFE) using computerized tomography (CT) to investigate the effects of CCFE on the cervical curve. METHODS: Eighteen subjects were recruited for this study. Nine subjects were allocated to the straight neck group (subjects with pain and a cervical lordosis angle of less than 20°); the remainder formed the control group (subjects with a cervical lordosis angle greater than 20°). The CSA of the subjects' neck flexors (longus colli, longus capitis, and sternocleidomastoid) were measured by CT during rest and CCFE in the supine position, and the range of motion (ROM) of neck flexion was measured using a C-ROM instrument in a sitting. RESULTS: The straight neck group had a significantly smaller CSA of the longus colli, longus capitis, and sternocleidomastoid than the control group (p < .05). Both the straight neck and control groups showed statistically significant increases in the CSA of the neck flexors during CCFE compared to that at rest (p < .05). In addition, the straight neck group showed a significantly smaller ROM of neck flexion than the control group (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide more concrete evidence for therapists by demonstrating that CCFE improves the neck function by strengthening the neck flexors and increasing the neck stability for straight neck patients. Therefore, it is necessary to perform CCFE and neck extension exercises to rehabilitate straight neck patients.

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References

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