Three-Dimensional Motion Analysis of the 2nd Cervical Spinous Process at End Range Cervical Rotation in Different Scapular Positions Using 3D Digitizer.

Takahiro Otsudo,Toby Hall,Hiroshi Hattori,Yuki Hasebe,Akihiro Tamura,Kiyokazu Akasaka

doi:10.1155/2018/9835846

Abstract

Objective The study used a 3D digitizer to determine three-dimensional motion analysis of the 2nd cervical (C2) spinous process at end range cervical rotation with the scapula in different positions. Methods 30 healthy adults participated in this study. Different scapula positions were adopted bilaterally and positioned passively at normal resting, depression, adduction, and abduction. Under each scapula position, bilateral end range cervical rotation and displacement of the C2 spinous process were analyzed by a 3D digitizer. ResultsDisplacement of the C2 spinous process relative to the occiput was significantly correlated with range of cervical rotation under all scapular positions (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences between end range cervical rotation and displacement of the C2 spinous process relative to the occiput in any scapular position. ConclusionThese results suggest that measurement of upper cervical mobility using the 3D digitizer is a reliable method that holds promise in the evaluation of people with cervical spine disorders.

Highlights

Neck pain has considerable impact on societal health, representing 14.6% of all musculoskeletal problems reported annually [1]
These results indicated that C2 displacement was correlated with the magnitude of upper cervical rotation regardless of the four scapular positions: rest, depression, adduction, and abduction
The current study’s results support these physical therapies for people with cervicogenic headache (CGH) because there were no significant differences in range of cervical rotation and displacement of C2 spinous process relative to the occiput in any scapular position

Summary

Introduction

Neck pain has considerable impact on societal health, representing 14.6% of all musculoskeletal problems reported annually [1]. Assessment of active cervical spine movement is a routine part of examination of cervical spine disorders including neck pain [2]. Changes in the alignment of the scapulae can potentially influence the biomechanics of cervical spine by altering tension in these muscles [8]. There is disagreement in the literature about the effects of scapula position on cervical movement and pain. Passive scapular elevation significantly decreased neck pain and significantly increased cervical range of motion [9]. Another report found that scapula position did not influence range of cervical rotation [7]. It is unclear whether cervical rotation is influenced by different scapular positions or not

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion