Spine In Women Research Articles

COMPARISON OF SPINAL CURVATURES OF WOMEN HAD GIVEN MULTIPLE TIMES AND NEVER GIVEN BIRTH

Background: It is known that the amount of load loaded on the body affects the spine and spinal curvature. It was thought that the spine could be affected during each pregnancy experienced by the women. The spine measurements of women who gave birth and those who did not were compared . Material and methots: In this study, the spines of women who came to X X.X. Medical Center Gynecology and Obstetrics Poliyclinic in 2020 were examined using the Spinal Mouse device. In posture analysis, it was aimed to evaluate the results of the measurements obtained with the Spinal Mouse. A total of 100 women between the ages of 30-35, 50 from women who have never given birth and 50 from women who have had multiple births [women who have given birth at least three times ], were included in the study. T-Test was used to compare group means in terms of continuous variables. Results: As a result of the findings obtained, the average weight of women who gave birth and never gave birth was p=0.001 as a result of statistical analysis and it was found significant. There was a difference in angular values between the two groups, with LL [p=0.001 ] and SK [p=0.003 ] measurements taken in the extension position in the measurements taken in the upright position, a significant result was obtained in the TK [p=0.040 ] and LL [p=0.001 ] values. Conclusions: It is seen that every birth process experienced negatively affects the posture of women. Therefore, women who have given birth should be made aware of the necessary exercise and physical activity in order to control and protect the spine health.

Sedentary lifestyle of university students is detrimental to the thoracic spine in men and to the lumbar spine in women.

Sitting for long periods of time and lack of physical activity in young adults can cause postural deterioration leading to rapid onset of fatigue and increase the risk of back pain. We were interested in whether there are gender differences in spinal curvature among university students with a predominantly sedentary lifestyle. 20 sedentary female (age 20 ± 0.73 years) and 39 sedentary male university students (age 20 ± 1.08 years) participated in this study. Their thoracic and lumbar curvatures were assessed while standing and sitting using a Spinal Mouse. In standing, 80.0% of the females and 69.2% of the males had a neutral position of the thoracic spine (33.25° and 35.33°, respectively). However, more males, 30.8%, than females, 10.0%, had hyperkyphosis (54.27° and 47.0°, respectively). Hypokyphosis was found in 10.0% of the females (18.50°) and none in the males. Similarly, 90.0% of the females and 97.4% of the males had neutral position of the lumbar spine (-33.11° and -29.76°, respectively). Increased hyperlordosis was found in 10.0% of the females and 2.6% of the males (-41.0° and -50.0°, respectively). Hypolordosis was not detected in either females or males. In sitting, on the other hand, 70.0% of the females and only 33.3% of the males had a neutral position of the thoracic spine (30.20° and 30.62°, respectively). Increased hyperkyphosis was found in 46.2% of the males (59.76°) and none of the females. 30.0% of the females and 23.1% of the males had light hypokyphosis (47.50° and 46.67°, respectively). Similarly, 70.0% of the females and only 38.5% of the males had a neutral position of the lumbar spine (7.0° and 6.6°, respectively). 35.9% of the males and only 5.0% of the females had a light hypokyphosis (16.14° and 16.0°, respectively). Slightly increased hyperkyphosis was identified in 25.6% of the males and 25.0% of the females (23.9° and 22.5°, respectively). There are significant gender differences in spinal curvature. While in the thoracic spine it was to the detriment of the males when both standing and sitting, in the lumbar spine it is related to the females only when standing. It is therefore necessary to eliminate these spinal deviations in young adults induced by prolonged sitting during university courses by appropriate recovery modalities.

Effects of four-year cyclic versus two-year daily teriparatide treatment on volumetric bone density and bone strength in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

To evaluate the effects of cyclic vs daily teriparatide treatment (TPTD) on volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and bone strength at the hip and spine in women who were previously untreated. A total of 86 women were randomized to a 24-month open label treatment of either daily TPTD (20μg daily) or cyclic TPTD (20μg daily for 3months followed by 3months off). During a 2-year extension, women in the daily TPTD group were switched to alendronate (ALN) and those in the cyclic TPTD group continued on cyclic TPTD (without any ALN). QCT images were acquired at baseline, 2-years (n=54) and 4-years (n=35) and analyzed for volumetric integral, cortical and trabecular bone mineral density (vBMD) and bone strength (by finite element analysis) at the hip and spine. The primary analysis presented here compared the responses across equal total TPTD doses (2years daily vs 4years cyclic). In the spine, integral vBMD and strength increased substantially after 2years daily and 4years cyclic TPTD, with no significant differences (vBMD +12% vs +11%, respectively, p=0.70; spine strength +21% vs +16%, respectively, p=0.35). At the hip, the gains were smaller, but again no significant differences were detected between the groups for the increases in either vBMD (+2% in both groups, p=0.97) or hip strength (3% vs 3%, p=0.91). In the spine, the vBMD increment was about twice as large in the trabecular vs peripheral compartment; in the hip, significant vBMD gain was seen only in the trabecular compartment. The gains in volumetric BMD and bone strength for an equivalent dose of TPTD did not depend on whether it was administered every day over two years or cyclically over four years.

Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament and a High OP Index: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study (JOSL Study).

Background: The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical features of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) and extreme ossification at multiple sites. Methods: This prospective study involved patients with a diagnosis of cervical OPLL at 16 institutions in Japan. Patient-reported outcome measures, including responses on the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire (JOA-CMEQ), JOA Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOA-BPEQ), and visual analog scale pain score, were collected to investigate clinical status. In each patient, the sum of the levels at which OPLL was located (OP index) was evaluated on whole-spine computed tomography, along with ossification of other spinal ligaments including the anterior longitudinal ligament (OALL), ligament flavum (OLF), supra- and intraspinous ligaments (SSL), and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). The distribution of OP index values in the study population was investigated, and the clinical and radiologic characteristics of patients in the top 10% were assessed. Results: In total, 236 patients (163 male, 73 female; mean age 63.5 years) were enrolled. Twenty-five patients with OP index ≥ 17 were categorized into a high OP index group and the remainder into a moderate/low OP index group. There were significantly more women in the high OP index group. Patients in the high OP index group also had significantly poorer scores for lower extremity function and quality of life on the JOA-CMEQ and in each domain but not for body pain on the JOA-BPEQ compared with those in the moderate/low OP index group. Patients in the high OP index group had more OALL in the cervical spine and more OLF and SSL in the thoracic spine. The prevalence of DISH was also significantly higher in the high OP index group. In the high OP index group, interestingly, OPLL was likely to be present adjacent to DISH in the cervicothoracic and thoracolumbar spine, especially in men, and often coexisted with DISH in the thoracic spine in women. Conclusion: This prospective cohort registry study is the first to demonstrate the clinical and radiologic features of patients with OPLL and a high OP index. In this study, patients with a high OP index had poorer physical function in the lumbar spine and lower extremities and were also predisposed to extreme ossification of spinal ligaments other than the OPLL.

Self-massage as a preventive means for osteochondrosis

The article presents an assessment and analysis of mobility and pain threshold in the cervico thoracic spine in women 55-65 years of age undergoing preventive treatment with a diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervico thoracic spine. It was revealed that in the examined set of parameters of possible movements in the cervical spine, the most problematic positions are flexion and extension. Testing of the mobility of the cervico thoracic spine was performed on ten positions, the assessment of which revealed the need not only to restore painless movement in the cervico thoracic spine, but also to activate mobility in the shoulder joints. Since, as a result of age-related changes, in 90% of cases, the mobility in the shoulder joints decreases and, as a result, the variety of movements is limited. The paper considers the possibility of influencing the musculo-ligamentous apparatus of elderly women. Massage exercises are presented, with a detailed description of the technique and methodology for using the developed self-massage movements in an independent mode. The main purpose of which is to restore the mobility of the cervico thoracic spine, improve the elasticity of the muscles of the investigated spine and restore the normalization of blood and lymph circulation in the most important part of the spine.

Joint and muscle injuries in men and women CrossFit® training participants

ABSTRACT Objective Verify the incidence and rate of joint and muscle injuries with the practice of CrossFit® and the potential risk factors for injuries in men and women. Methods A total of 184 CrossFit® participants (97 men and 87 women). A questionnaire was conducted based on characterization, training routine, injuries, and additional information. The incidence refers to the number of new cases of injury in the sample during the CrossFit® training. The injury rate was calculated by estimating the number of weekly training hours and converted into the number of injuries per 1000 training hours. Results Among the participants, 38.6% reported some type of injury, being joint injuries (83.1%) and/or muscle injuries (45.1%). The injury rate was 3.4/1000 h, with men having a higher rate. The location of the joint injuries was shoulders, wrists, and elbows, in addition to the lumbar spine in women. As for muscle injuries, the deltoid, upper back muscles, and quadriceps femoris were the most reported in men and deltoid, trapezius, upper back muscles, and gastrocnemius in women. Conclusions A better understanding of the anatomical distribution of the injuries may help coaches prescribe the most adequate workout that may reduce the likelihood of injuries occurring in CrossFit® training participants. It was demonstrated that gender, experience, weekly frequency, and previous injuries are important factors, and professionals must be concerned with the assessment of the participants and with an individualized progression in order to avoid risks.

Mobility of the Cervical Spine in Women with Headaches: A Pilot Study

Mobility of the Cervical Spine in Women with Headaches: A Pilot Study

Study of the RS2910164 polymorphic variant of MIR-146A microRNA gene in patients with primary osteoporosis

MiRNAs, known as the family of short non-coding RNAs, are key repressors of gene expression and play an important role in the regulation of osteogenesis, interact with signaling molecules of bone remodeling, and control the processes of differentiation of bone cells. A study of the polymorphic variant rs2910164 (n. 303C>G) of the microRNA gene (miR-146a) and an assessment of its role in the formation of the risk of osteoporetic fractures and low bone mineral density (BMD) in a sample of postmenopausal women and men over 45 years of age was conducted. The C allele was found to be associated with a low level of bone mineral density in the lumbar spine in women. There were no significant associations of the studied locus with osteoporotic fractures in General and their separate localities in men and women, with a low level of BMD in General and various localities in men.

Effects of metabolic syndrome on bone health in older adults: the Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) program.

The results of previous reports in regard to the effect of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on bone health are not conclusive. This study aimed to evaluate the association between MetS with bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone score (TBS) as an indicator of bone quantity and quality, respectively. Using a cross-sectional design, this study was carried out based on the data collected during the BEH Program, stage II. MetS was defined according to NCEP-ATP III criteria. BMD (at the lumbar spine and the hip) and lumbar spine TBS were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry device. The data of 2380 participants (women= 1228, men= 1152) aged ≥ 60 were analyzed. In the fully adjusted regression models (including BMI), significant associations between MetS and mean BMD were observed across all locations in men (P values ≤ 0.001) and in the lumbar spine in women (P value = 0.003). In addition, the prevalence of osteoporosis (based on BMD) was significantly lower in those with MetS than those without MetS in both sexes, even after full adjustments (women, OR = 0.707, P value = 0.013; men, OR = 0.563, P value = 0.001). In contrast, in age-adjusted regression analyses, the prevalence of degraded bone microarchitecture (TBS ≤ 1.2) was significantly increased in those with MetS than those without, irrespective of the participants' sex (P values < 0.05). The mean TBS was also negatively associated with MetS in women (β= - 0.075, P value = 0.007) but not in men (β= - 0.052, P value = 0.077), in age-adjusted regression models. However, after including BMI in the adjusted models, all significant associations between TBS values and MetS disappeared. It seems that a positive association exists between MetS and BMD, while MetS is either not associated or negatively correlated with bone quality as measured by TBS.

Impact of Pilates on the Intensity of Pain in the Spine of Women of the First Mature age

The purpose of the study is to determine the dynamics of pain intensity in different parts of the spine in women of the first mature age under the influence of pilates.&#x0D; Materials and methods. 64 women took part in research. The women were divided into two groups, each of which included 32 people. The study was carried out at the Sokol sports club and the Olimp fitness club in Kiev. We used the questionnaire “Visual analogue scale of pain”. &#x0D; Results. We measured the level of pain in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine of women of the first mature age. It was found that only 4.69 % of women do not have pain. It was found that women of the first mature age the most often feel painin the cervical region. The women of the control group were engaged in a typical Pilates program. The women of the experimental group were engaged in the author’s program, a feature of which was the use of large equipment during classes. In addition, women who could not attend classes were offered the Pilates computer program. For the experiment, no statistically significant difference between the level of pain in different parts of the spine of women was established. After the experiment, a statistically significant decrease in the level of pain in the lumbar section of women in the experimental group was recorded compared with women in the control group. &#x0D; Conclusions. The results indicate the effectiveness of large equipment to reduce the level of pain in the back of a woman.

Biomechanical Aspects of the Spine of Women with High Heels, Pain and Their Influencing Factors - A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract Purpose: High heels have been a fashion mainstay for women for 100s of years despite the well-known fact that wearing them often causes pain in the feet, legs and back. The cause of this pain is complex and the root cause of it has not been determined because a study exploring the biomechanical effects on the vertebral torsion moment on wearers has not been undertaken. Methods: Using video raster stereography, 140 women were measured while in bare foot and while wearing high heels. The collected parameters formed the basis for biomechanical model calculation in order to make more accurate statements about the torsion moment and muscle strength. In addition, a multivariate regression analysis was carried out to evaluate influence factors on pain that occurred while wearing high heels. Results: One hundred and thirty-six women (97 %) aged 18 to 79 years finished the study. The comparison between the measurement points showed a significant difference in the torsion moment. In the regression analysis, the heel height and the frequency of wearing high heels were significant factors influencing the occurrence of pain. Conclusions: Wearing high heels is associated with changes in the posture parameters. The torsion moment is reduced but it does not influence the development of pain which is mainly affected by the height of the heels and the frequency of wearing high heels. In the present study especially, the wearer’s feet were affected.

Investigation of the presence of G354A (Cys87Tyr) mutation in osteoprotegerin gene in women with osteoporosis in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province

Background and aims: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a competitive inhibitor of the differentiation and activity of osteoclasts, which inhibits the final stages of osteoclast formation and induces its apoptosis. In addition, OPG is considered as one of the most important candidate genes in the pathogenesis of bone diseases such as osteoporosis and idiopathic hyperphosphatasia. The G354A (Cys87Tyr) mutation in the OPG gene leads to idiopathic hyperphosphatasia. This mutation is probably related to osteoporosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of G354A (Cys87Tyr) in women with osteoporosis in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, the bone mineral density (BMD) of the femoral neck and lumbar spine of women referring to Shahrekord bone densitometry centers was measured by the X-ray absorptiometry technique in 2013-2014. Based on T-scores, people with osteoporosis were identified and 70 patients were enrolled in the study after receiving their consent. Finally, DNA was extracted from blood samples, amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, and sequenced by DNA sequencing method. Results: After DNA extraction from the blood, the quality and quantity were determined by gel electrophoresis and spectrophotometry, respectively. Then, the gene was amplified by the PCR method and the product was detected by gel electrophoresis, followed by sequencing the samples to investigate the presence of the mutation. Eventually, genotypes associated with Cys87Tyr mutation were not observed in the studied population. Conclusion: In the present study, the G354A (Cys87Tyr) mutation associated with idiopathic hyperphosphatasia was not found in women with osteoporosis.

Isolated and Multilevel Spondylolysis (Literature Review)

One of the main causes of lumbar spine pain is spondylolysis. The purpose of this review is to present the current state of the problem of diagnosis and treatment isolated and multilevel spondylolysis.Materials and Methods. The review includes 86 publications on the problem of spondylolysis for 2005–2019, obtained from electronic databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, eLIBRARY, CYBERLENINKA.Results. There is still the only known classification of spondylolysis by P. Niggemann et al, which includes four severity of this pathology — from mild to very severe: A, BI, BII, BIII. The classification is based on the nature of changes in the area of bone defect of the vertebral arch when the patient performs functional tests. In some cases, the pathology can be regarded as a transition between different degrees of severity of type B. The treatment of spondylolysis can be both conservative and operational. The conservative therapy consists of physical activity restriction, physiotherapy, wearing a corset, massage, and pharmacotherapy. The purpose of surgical treatment is the removal of fibrous tissue from the zone of spondylolysis and the achievement in this area the bone fusion via a bone autoplasty and(or) osteosynthesis with different metal frameworks. Reasoned arguments about the need for a combination of conservative and surgical treatment of patients with spondylolysis are also reflected in the publications. Information on multilevel spondylolysis is represented by a small number of articles. only 15 authors described clinical cases of multilevel spondylolysis in a total of 21 patients. Spondylolysis is a high risk factor for the spondylolisthesis formation. Among the various categories of patients suffering from spondylolysis and lumbar spondylolysis spondylolisthesis, pregnant women are of particular interest. Hormonal restructuring and changes in the biomechanics of the spine in women during the gestational period often leads to the appearance or intensification pain syndrome in lumbar spine complicating the pregnancy, and hence a fetus development.Conclusion. Timely diagnosis of spondylolysis and the subsequent development of individual rehabilitation not only improves the quality of life of patients, but in some cases can prevent such a serious pathology as spondylolisthesis.

Efficacy of Physiotherapy in Reducing Back Pain and Improve Joint Mobility in Older Women.

Pain of the spine and large appendicular joints may limit the functional mobility of elderly persons and affect their biological fitness. This paper assesses the effects of comprehensive physical therapy in women with lumbar and cervical pain and compares flexibility in the upper and lower body and the range of motion in selected joints. Thirty-three women aged 60-75 years completed a 6-week intervention involving group gymnastics to prevent back pain, relaxation techniques, classic massage, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and ultrasound therapy to the lumbosacral and cervicothoracic regions. Patient outcomes were assessed by measuring upper and lower body flexibility, upper and lower extremity joint and spinal ROM, and self-reported back pain using a Visual Analogue Scale. Differences in means between successive measurements were calculated with a Student t test for dependent groups, while differences in the range of motion in the joints of the right and left limbs were calculated with the NIR test. The physical therapy significantly improved flexibility of the upper and lower body by increasing the range of motion in selected joints of the limbs and the spine. On completion of the intervention, the intensity of back pain was reduced by 2.9 points in the VAS scale. 1. The 6-week physical therapy programme desig-ned by us constitutes an effective therapy for pain relief in patients with degenerative changes of the spine. 2. The proposed combination of sonotherapy, elec-tro-therapy and classic massage procedures with general fitness exercises in low positions and au-to-genic training contributed significantly to im-provement in flexibility of the upper and lower part of the body and increasing the range of mo-tion in joints of the lower and upper extremities and the spine in women over 60 years of age. 3. The proposed set of procedures and exercises may be used in women over 60 years of age with the aim of improving selected components of biolo-gical fitness.

Spinal myoclonus following neuraxial anesthesia: a literature review.

Spinal myoclonus (SM) is a rare neurologic movement disorder following neuraxial anesthesia (NA). SM following NA (SM-NA) has insufficient clinical information and its pathogenesis remains to be elucidated. The aim of this review article was to summarize the past cases and consider SM-NA pathophysiology. Based on our PubMed search, it was revealed that SM-NA develops within several hours after neuraxial local anesthetic (LA) administration and resolves in a day without leaving neurologic compilations. It occurs primarily in the lower extremities, but can sometimes spread upward and affect the upper extremities and trunk. Although statistical adjustments are indispensable, analysis of the previous cases provided important facts that seem to be related with the mechanism of SM-NA. The frequently used LAs for spinal anesthesia were hyperbaric. SM-NA occurrence was more frequent in women. After initiation of spinal anesthesia, intrathecal hyperbaric LA distributes cephalad. In the LA elimination process, the large concentration differences in intrathecal LA may induce the partially functioning spinal neurons, resulting in myoclonus generation. The morphological features of the lumbar spine in women can predispose to a higher LA concentration difference. SM-NA is an unpredictable and rare neural complication following NA and should be confirmed by basic experiments and large-scale researches.

BONE MINERAL DENSITY WOMEN AGED 45 AND OLDER WITH OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY

Objectives: (1) To assess the bone mineral density by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in women aged 45 and older with overweight, obesity. (2) To approach the relationship between the bone mineral density and osteoporosis risk factors in women aged 45 and older with overweight, obesity. Materials and method: 207 women aged 45 and older receiving treatment at Medic - Binh Duong hospital were divided into 2 groups: 147 women with overweight, obesity and 60 women without overweight, obesity. Research was designed as a cross-sectional descriptive study and comparative control group. Results: The femoral bone mineral density in terms of women with overweight, obesity is (0.795 ± 0.121) and the control group is (0.731± 0.116). The bone mineral density of lumbar spine in women with overweight, obesity is (0.800 ± 0.138) and the control group is (0.757 ± 0.148). Conclusions: The bone mineral of femora in women with overweight, obesity was higher than that of the control group (p&lt;0.05). Between two groups, there were no differences in the bone mineral of lumbar spine (p&gt;0.05). There was a statistically significant relationship between the bone mineral density and age, menopause state, and duration of menopause in women aged 45 and older with overweight, obesity (p&lt;0.01). Key words: Bone mineral density, women aged 45 and older, overweight, obesity

Distribution of ossified spinal lesions in patients with severe ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and prediction of ossification at each segment based on the cervical OP index classification: a multicenter study (JOSL CT study)

BackgroundIn patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in the cervical spine, it is well known that the thoracic ossified lesions often coexist with the cervical lesions and can cause severe myelopathy. However, the prevalence of OPLL at each level of the thoracic and lumbar spinal segments is unknown. The aims of this study were to investigate how often OPLL occurs at each level in the thoracolumbar spine in patients with a radiological diagnosis of cervical OPLL and to identify the spinal levels most likely to develop ossification.MethodsData were collected from 20 institutions in Japan. Three hundred and twenty-two patients with a diagnosis of cervical OPLL were included. The OPLL index (OP index), defined as the sum of the vertebral body and intervertebral disc levels where OPLL is present, was used to determine disease severity. An OP index ≥20 was defined as severe OPLL. The prevalence of OPLL at each level of the thoracic and lumbar spinal segments was calculated.ResultsWomen were more likely to have ossified lesions in the thoracolumbar spine than men. Severe OPLL was significantly more common in women than in men (20% vs. 4.5%). For thoracic vertebral OPLL, the most frequently affected was the T1 segment in both men and women, followed by the T1/2 and T3/4 intervertebral levels in men and women, respectively. Ossified lesions were frequently seen at the intervertebral and vertebral levels around the cervicothoracic and thoracolumbar junctions in men with severe OPLL, whereas OPLL was more diffusely distributed in the thoracic spine in women with severe OPLL.ConclusionThoracolumbar OPLL occurred most often at T1 in men and at T3/4 in women. In severe OPLL cases, although ossified lesions were frequently seen at the intervertebral and vertebral levels around the cervicothoracic and thoracolumbar junctions in men, OPLL could be observed more diffusely in the thoracic spine in women.

Associations between neck symptoms and LDL cholesterol in a cross-sectional population-based study.

Studies have reported associations between neck pain and degenerative changes in the cervical spine in women, and between neck pain and obesity or metabolic syndrome. The present study investigated associations between neck pain or stiffness and lipid profiles in subjects recruited from the general population of a Japanese community. The 1122 volunteers who participated in this study included 426 men (age 52.6±15.5 years; body mass index 23.6±3.2) and 696 women (age 55.3±15.3 years; body mass index 22.2±3.4). Each subject filled out a questionnaire about any neck pain or neck-shoulder stiffness experienced in the previous 3 months. We recorded the following laboratory results related to metabolic factors, including lipid profiles: total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids, glucose, and hemoglobin A1c. We conducted logistic and linear regression analyses using the prevalence of neck pain or neck-shoulder stiffness as the dependent variable and age, sex, body mass index, and laboratory data as independent variables. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of neck pain between men (20.5%) and women (21.5%). However, the prevalence of neck and shoulder stiffness was significantly higher in women (60.3%) than in men (38.0%; P<0.05). Logistic and linear regression analyses showed a significant negative correlation between the prevalence of neck pain and LDL cholesterol (odds ratio [OR], 0.958; 95% CI, 0.921-0.997), and between the prevalence of neck-shoulder stiffness and age (OR, 1.025; 95% CI, 1.013-1.038) and gender (OR, 0.362; 95% CI, 0.25-0.494). LDL cholesterol was correlated with neck pain in this cross-sectional population-based study.

Normal aging of the lumbar spine in women.

Lumbar lordosis is required for bipedalism. To investigate age-related changes in lumbar lordosis and to clarify the relationships between lumbar lordosis and vertebral wedging and disc degeneration. A total of 300 women were included in this retrospective study, 50 in each of six age groups (20-, 30-, 40-, 50-, 60- and 70-year-olds). Patients with vertebral collapse, instable fracture or disc sequestration were excluded. In each patient, lumbar lordosis angle, posterior vertebral wedging, L5-S1 intervertebral disc angle, L5/L1 vertebral height ratio and L5-S1 intervertebral disc/L1-L2 intervertebral disc height ratio were examined. Significance level was set at p< 0.05 and two-sided tests were used. Significant differences were found in lumbar lordosis according to age group (p< 0.001). Lumbar lordosis correlated most strongly with L4 posterior vertebral wedging, L5 posterior vertebral wedging and L5-S1 intervertebral disc angle, in that order (r= 0.50, r= 0.40, r= 0.32, respectively; p< 0.001). In this cohort, strong spinal structure was maintained during physiological aging from 20 to 40 years of age; lumbar lordosis increased by 50 years of age. Increased lordosis correlated with increased posterior vertebral wedging and loss of posterior disc height.

Characterisation of the correlation between standing lordosis and degenerative joint disease in the lower lumbar spine in women and men: a radiographic study

BackgroundDegenerative joint disease (DJD) in the lumbar spine is a common condition that is associated with chronic low back pain. Excessive loading of lumbar joints is a risk factor for DJD. Changes in lumbar lordosis significantly redistribute the forces of weight-bearing on the facet joints and the intervertebral discs. However, the relationship between lumbar lordosis and DJD has not been characterized in men and women.MethodsWe characterised the correlation between standing lumbar lordosis and DJD in standing radiographic images from 301 adult female and male chiropractic patients. DJD was rated using the Kellgren-Lawrence scale, and lordosis was measured using the Cobb angle. Linear and curvilinear correlations were investigated while controlling for age and sex.ResultsWe found a highly significant curvilinear correlation between lordosis and DJD of the lower lumbar spine in both sexes, but especially in women, irrespective of the effects of age. We found the effect size of lordosis on lower lumbar DJD to be between 17.4 and 18.1% in women and 12.9% in older men. In addition, lordosis of 65 (95% CI 55.3–77.7) and 68 (98% CI 58.7–73.3) degrees were associated with minimal DJD in the lower lumbar spine of women and men respectively, and were therefore considered ‘optimal’. This optimal lordotic angle was 73 (95% CI 58.8–87.2) degrees in older men.ConclusionsBoth hypo- and hyper-lordosis correlate with DJD in the lumbar spine, particularly in women and in older men. These findings may well be of relevance to spinal pain management and spinal rehabilitation.