Correlation of non-traumatic neck pain with cervical angle and shoulder retractor power in adult clerical population

Abstract

Posture can be defined as the position of all the body segments observed at a specific moment. Inadequate posture consists of poor interrelations between parts of the body. These imperfect interrelations cause muscle tension and shortening, which makes appropriate joint movements more difficult to achieve. 1 A forward head posture (or chin poking) is perhaps the most common abnormality associated with NP and is commonly defined as the protrusion of the head in the sagittal plane so that the head is placed anterior to the trunk. Forward head posture can occur because of an anterior translation of the head, lower cervical flexion, or both, and it is claimed to be associated with an increase in upper-cervical extension. It is suggested that forward head posture leads to an increase in the compressive ABSTRACT Background: A forward head posture (or chin poking) is perhaps the most common abnormality associated with NP and is commonly defined as the protrusion of the head in the sagittal plane so that the head is placed anterior to the trunk. Forward head posture can occur because of an anterior translation of the head, lower cervical flexion, or both, and it is claimed to be associated with an increase in upper-cervical extension. It is suggested that forward head posture leads to an increase in the compressive forces on the cervical apophyseal joints and posterior part of the vertebra and to changes in connective tissue length and strength (because of stretching of the anterior structures of the neck and shortening of the posterior muscles) resulting in pain. The objective of the study was to correlate neck pain with cervical angle and shoulder retractor power in non-traumatic neck pain patients. Methods: 50 clerical workers having non traumatic neck pain were included. Neck pain was measured on VAS, cervical angle was measured using photometric method and shoulder retractor power was measured. Results: VAS showed moderate positive correlation with cervical angles (0.63 and 0.72) and moderate negative correlation with shoulder retractor power (-0.59 and-0.71). A moderate positive correlation of craniocervical angle to VAS seen (0.66) whereas there was negative correlation with shoulder retractors I and II (-0.59 and-0.61) A positive correlation was seen between VAS and craniocervical angle but is moderately negative with shoulder retractors I (Rhomboids) and II (Middle trapezius) (0.78, 0.04,-0.69 and-0.64). Conclusion: A moderate increase in cranio vertebral & craniocervical angle showed plausible weakness in lower Trapezius and rhomboids among clerks` having Non-traumatic neck pain.