Neck pain in rounded shoulder posture: Clinico-radiologic correlation by shear wave elastography

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Musculoskeletal Disorders
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Neck pain is increasingly prevalent among adolescents and young adults.
• Prolonged use of smartphones and computers contributes to postural issues like rounded shoulder posture (RSP) and forward head posture, which are associated with neck pain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between shoulder and neck angles and the muscle stiffness of the upper trapezius and pectoralis minor in patients diagnosed with RSP.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective screening of neck pain patients assessed via shear wave elastography.
• Determination of RSP and evaluation of shoulder and neck angles using smartphone-based photogrammetry.
• Exclusion of patients with prior surgery/trauma or connective tissue/neurological diseases; analysis of 39 female patients.

Main Results:

• Patients exhibited mean cervical and shoulder angles of 52.2° ± 3.8° and 57.91° ± 9.4°, respectively.
• Mean muscle stiffness values were recorded for the upper trapezius (42.5 ± 14.1 kPa [right], 47.1 ± 17.1 kPa [left]) and pectoralis minor (20.5 ± 8.0 kPa [right], 17.9 ± 8.4 kPa [left]).
• Multiple regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between the stiffness of the left upper trapezius muscle and the shoulder angle.

Conclusions:

• Muscle stiffness in the upper trapezius is elevated in individuals with RSP.
• This study suggests a potential link between increased upper trapezius muscle stiffness, RSP, and the development of neck pain.