Association Between Suboccipital Muscle Tone, Postural Balance, and Head Posture in Healthy Adults

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Neuroscience
• Human Movement Science

Background:

• Suboccipital muscles (SOMs) are crucial for proprioception and postural control due to their rich muscle spindle innervation.
• The specific relationship between SOM tone, head posture, and balance performance requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between suboccipital muscle tone and postural balance in healthy adults.
• To examine correlations with craniovertebral angle (CVA), static balance (center of pressure trajectory), and dynamic balance (gait parameters).

Main Methods:

• 112 healthy adults were assessed for suboccipital muscle (SOM), cervical extensor muscle (CEM), and upper trapezius muscle (UTM) tone.
• Head posture was measured using the craniovertebral angle (CVA).
• Static balance was evaluated via center of pressure (COP) analysis, and dynamic balance through gait parameters.

Main Results:

• Higher SOM tone was significantly associated with a smaller CVA, increased COP path length and velocity, and narrower step width.
• Regression analysis confirmed SOM tone's significant association with CVA, COP measures, and step width.
• No significant associations were found between CEM or UTM tone and the measured postural control variables.

Conclusions:

• Suboccipital muscle tone appears to be a significant factor influencing postural control characteristics in healthy adults.
• Findings suggest that elevated SOM tone may negatively impact head posture and balance performance.