Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 13, 2026

Evaluation of Patients' Posture and Gait Profile After Lumbar Fusion Surgery by Video Rasterstereography and Treadmill Gait Analysis

Published on: March 23, 2019

Impact of Isometric Contraction of Anterior Cervical Muscles on Cervical Lordosis

Curtis A Fedorchuk¹, Matthew McCoy², Douglas F Lightstone¹

¹Private Practice, Cumming, GA, USA.

Journal of Radiology Case Reports

|October 21, 2016

Abstract

Objective:

This study investigates the impact of isometric contraction of anterior cervical muscles on cervical lordosis.

Methods:

29 volunteers were randomly assigned to an anterior head translation (n=15) or anterior head flexion (n=14) group. Resting neutral lateral cervical x-rays were compared to x-rays of sustained isometric contraction of the anterior cervical muscles producing anterior head translation or anterior head flexion.

Results:

Paired sample t-tests indicate no significant difference between pre and post anterior head translation or anterior head flexion. Analysis of variance suggests that gender and peak force were not associated with change in cervical lordosis. Chamberlain's to atlas plane line angle difference was significantly associated with cervical lordosis difference during anterior head translation (p=0.01).

Conclusion:

This study shows no evidence that hypertonicity, as seen in muscle spasms, of the muscles responsible for anterior head translation and anterior head flexion have a significant impact on cervical lordosis.

Keywords:

anterior cervical muscles anterior head flexion anterior head translation cervical biomechanics forward head posture hypertonicity hypolordosis muscle spasm neutral lateral cervical radiograph

More Related Videos

Clinical Efficacy of Ultrasound-Assisted Scoliosis-Specific Exercise in Mild-Grade Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Clinical Efficacy of Ultrasound-Assisted Scoliosis-Specific Exercise in Mild-Grade Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Published on: December 2, 2025

Novel Mini-open Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Novel Mini-open Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Published on: June 6, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Isotonic and Isometric Muscle Contractions

Isotonic and Isometric Muscle Contractions

Two primary types of muscle contractions are isotonic and isometric, each serving unique functions and involving distinct mechanisms. Both isotonic and isometric contractions are integral to the body's complex system of movement and stability. Isotonic exercises contribute significantly to functional strength and movement, while isometric contractions are crucial for maintaining posture and joint stability.
Isotonic contractions
Isotonic contractions occur when a muscle changes length while...

Muscles that Move the Head

Muscles that Move the Head

The muscles that move the head are a dynamic and complex group of structures that work together to facilitate a wide range of head movements, including rotation, flexion, extension, and lateral bending.
The bilateral sternocleidomastoid, or SCM, and the suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles are significant head flexors. The SCM muscles originate at the sternum and clavicle and attach to the mastoid process of the temporal bone. The SCM contracts bilaterally to bend the head forward, whereas...

Muscles of the Anterior Neck

Muscles of the Anterior Neck

The anterior neck muscles are the group of muscles covering the front part of the neck. These muscles are classified into three subgroups. The first one is the superficial muscles, the most visible muscles in the front of the neck. It includes the platysma and sternocleidomastoid. The second group is the suprahyoid muscles, located above the hyoid bone. This group comprises the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid. Lastly, the infrahyoid muscles are found below the hyoid bone and...

Muscles of the Vertebral Column

Muscles of the Vertebral Column

The back muscles that lie deep into the thoracolumbar fascia are called intrinsic or true back muscles. These muscles are divided into four layers: superficial, intermediate, deep, and deepest layers.
Superficial Layer:
The superficial layer consists primarily of the splenius muscles, which include the splenius capitis and splenius cervicis. These muscles are mainly responsible for the head and cervical spine movements, including extension, rotation, and lateral bending. The splenius capitis...

Muscles of the Shoulder

Muscles of the Shoulder

The muscles surrounding the shoulder girdle, including the clavicle and scapula, primarily stabilize the scapula. This stable base allows other muscles to move the humerus effectively. Scapular movements often mirror those of the humerus and extend its range of motion. For instance, raising the arm above the head would not be feasible without simultaneous upward rotation of the scapula.
Anterior Thoracic Muscles
The anterior thoracic muscles include the serratus anterior, subclavius, and...

Relaxation of Skeletal Muscles

Relaxation of Skeletal Muscles

The period of muscle contraction primarily influences the duration of stimulation at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the presence of free calcium ions in the sarcoplasm, and the availability of energy or ATP to support contractions.
When an action potential reaches the axon terminal, it depolarizes the membrane and opens voltage-gated sodium channels. Sodium ions enter the cell, further depolarizing the presynaptic membrane. This depolarization causes voltage-gated calcium channels to open....

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

The Reliability of Biomechanical Mensuration Methods of the Sagittal Cervical Spine in Radiography Used in Clinical Practice: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Journal of clinical medicine·2026

Building and Sustaining Patient Engagement Infrastructure Focused on Overdose Prevention Within a US Veterans Affairs National Research Network.

Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy·2026

From Executor to Orchestrator: The Pharmacology Scientist in the Age of Agentic AI.

Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics·2026

Broncholithiasis: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Insights From a Contemporary Case Series of Five Patients.

Cureus·2026

The Clinical Impact of Concomitant Hemi-Arch Reconstruction at the time of Aortic Root Replacement.

JTCVS open·2026

Increased Cervical Disc Height and Decreased Neck Pain and Disability Following Improvement in Cervical Lordosis and Posture Using Chiropractic BioPhysics.

Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

See all related articles