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The correlation between trunk stabilizer muscles size using ultrasonography and craniovertebral angle changes
Nahid Rahmani1, Fatemeh Binaei2, Amir Hossein Kahlaee1
1Neuromusculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Physical Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Introduction:
Forward head posture is a postural deviation involving the cervical and cranial regions, and is commonly assessed through measurement of the craniovertebral angle. While multiple factors within the head and neck region have been shown to influence this condition, the question arises as to whether regions distant from the cervical spine might also be correlated with the manifestation of forward head posture. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between the size of the trunk stabilizing muscles and changes in the craniovertebral angle.
Methods:
For 66 participants, watching video content for 30 min was implemented as a sitting postural task. The craniovertebral angle was measured before and after this task using lateral view photography, followed by quantification with Image J software; thus, the magnitude of change in this angle was calculated as the difference between the pre-task and post-task values. To measure the thickness of trunk muscles including the transversus abdominis, internal and external obliques, as well as the lumbar multifidus muscle an ultrasonography device was utilized.
Results:
The results of data analysis revealed a statistically significant correlation between changes in the craniovertebral angle (toward forward head posture) and the thickness of the lumbar multifidus muscle (p = 0.038).
Conclusions:
According to the results obtained, participants who displayed greater craniovertebral angle changes indicating forward head posture following the postural task were found to have greater lumbar multifidus muscle thickness.
