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Related Experiment Videos

The straight cervical spine: does it indicate muscle spasm?

P S Helliwell1, P F Evans, V Wright

  • 1Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, Leeds, England.

The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. British Volume
|January 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary

The study found that a straight cervical spine is common in both healthy individuals and those with neck pain. This suggests that loss of cervical lordosis is not reliably caused by muscle spasm from neck pain.

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Area of Science:

  • Orthopedics
  • Radiology
  • Pain Management

Background:

  • Cervical lordosis is the natural inward curve of the neck.
  • Loss of this curve, often termed a 'straight' cervical spine, is sometimes attributed to muscle spasm in patients with neck pain.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of straight cervical spines in patients with acute and chronic neck pain.
  • To compare this prevalence with a normal population.
  • To determine if neck pain or muscle spasm is a significant factor in the loss of cervical lordosis.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study analyzing lateral radiographs.
  • Inclusion of three groups: acute neck pain patients, chronic neck pain patients, and a normal population sample.
  • Subjective and objective assessment of cervical spine curvature.

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Main Results:

  • Prevalence of straight cervical spines was 19% in acute neck pain and 26% in chronic neck pain cases.
  • A significant proportion (42%) of the normal population exhibited a straight cervical spine.
  • Women were more likely than men to have a straight cervical spine (OR 2.81).

Conclusions:

  • The study's findings do not support the hypothesis that loss of cervical lordosis is caused by muscle spasm due to neck pain.
  • A straight cervical spine is prevalent in the general population and may be influenced by factors other than pain, such as positioning.
  • Further research is needed to understand the etiology of cervical spine curvature changes.