Preliminary findings on the effect of load-carrying to the structural integrity of the cervical spine

Abstract

Carrying loads on the head is a common practice in rural Zimbabwe. Headloading imposes a considerable amount of strain to the axial skeleton. The cervical spine, being the most cranial and mobile part of the vertebral column, may be susceptible to spondylosis or disc degeneration in headloading. Age as well as the effects of intrinsic factors on cervical spondylosis have been well documented. However, studies on the effect of extrinsic weight bearing to spondylosis on the cervical spine are lacking. In this study, the effect of headloading on the pattern of spondylosis attributed to aging was examined. Results indicated that age led to significant degeneration of the fifth intervertebral disc space (P < 0.05) as well as significant straightening of the lordotic curve (P < 0.01). Load carrying seems to accentuate the straightening of the curve (P < 0.001). The results also suggest that headloading creates a shift in the degeneration from the fifth intervertebral disc space to higher levels. It is concluded that carrying heavy loads on the head alters the pattern of degenerative changes of the cervical spine.

Health impacts of pedestrian head-loading: A review of the evidence with particular reference to women and children in sub-Saharan Africa

“…Citing Shedid and Benzel (2007), Belachew et al (2007) note that head-loading women may develop degenerative disc disease in the upper cervical spine, with increased incidence of listhesis at a younger age (forward movement of one vertebrae with respect to an adjacent lower one, causing narrowing of the canal and hence possibly inducing neurological deficits or other complications). Joosab et al (1994) observed significant degeneration of the fifth intervertebral disc space and a straightening of the lordotic curve of the spine among head-loaders in Zimbabwe (n=20 loaders; 25 non-loaders, age-matched, 10-60y; gender not stated). They suggest that head-loading also encourages a shift in the degeneration from the fifth 12 intervertebral disc space to higher levels.…”

Determination of Safe Carrying Load Limit for Women Carrying Water

“…Fetching water is an extremely strenuous activity undertaken by rural women and it consumes an enormous amount of their time and energy and reduces it for the rest of work. Physical loading of the body within an individual's capacity for adaptive responses may lead to tissue strengthening; however, frequent loading beyond capacity for adaptation or repair may lead to injury through fatigue failure, accumulation of fatigue damage [5] or early degenerative changes in bone and soft tissues [6]. However, water carrying is a physical activity and assumptions have been made that water carrying is detrimental to health and associated with musculoskeletal disorders, such as spinal pain or other joint problems [7,8].…”

Sirsasana (headstand) technique alters head/neck loading: Considerations for safety

“…Previous research findings have shown that larger loads, repeated loads and asymmetrical loads all result in increased disc degeneration in the cervical region (Walter, 2011;Lotz, 2000;Matsumoto, 2010). Inquiry into the cervical 5 conditions of African wood-bearers, individuals practiced at loading the head, found increased degeneration and pain among male and female wood bearers bearing increased loads (Jager, 1997;Josaab, 1994). The literature reporting cadaver cervical spine failure loads reports a range of 300N to 17kN (Cusick 2001) with men consistently having 600N more loading capacity (Pintar, 1998).…”