Last Updated on March 13, 2024 by Umer Malik
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Head posture forward and links with neck pain and osteoarthritis
As I talked about in the first part of this article ( see page I of the article ), different symptoms and conditions can be linked to a loss of the cervical curve (cervical lordosis) which is also called head posture. forward or cervical straightness. In this second page of the head forward posture article, I will cite and summarize the findings of studies regarding this problem (defined as decrease in lordosis at the lower cervical level and increase lordosis at the upper cervical level) and the link with neck pain, muscle contractions and wear and tear and cervical spondylosis and cervical disc herniation.
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These pages are as well for people interested in the studies on this subject as for professionals who might not know these links. As an individual, you can ask your doctor, physiotherapist, or practitioner to consult these pages.
Considering the large number of studies, I only put summaries or the conclusions of the studies, but you can click on the links to read the summary, and for professionals, read the entire article if you like. interested (for some studies, you must have special access to read the entire article).
In addition, it should be understood that the existence of a link between the posture of the head forward and the disorders mentioned, does not necessarily mean causality. However, given that on the one hand the poor posture observed in young people (who are also often symptomatic at the beginning) and the appearance of symptoms in older people (adults) and the fact that rehabilitation for cervical rectitude is accompanied by improvement in symptoms, it is possible to assume a causal link between the loss of cervical lordosis and some of these disorders and symptoms.
Here are some studies and their conclusions:
January 2021
Article title: Correlation between sagittal kinematic parameters of cervical lordosis or head posture and disc degeneration in patients with posterior neck pain
Cervical straightnessConclusion: Researchers found that the loss of cervical lordosis was significantly correlated with the degree of cervical disc degeneration. These results suggest that the loss of natural sagittal lordosis of the cervical spine may contribute to the progression of disc degeneration or cervical spondylosis.
December 2020
Article title: Influence of forward head posture on cervico-cephalic kinesthesia and electromyographic activity of the neck musculature in asymptomatic individuals
Conclusion: The aim of this study was to compare cervico-cephalic kinesthesia and electromyographic activity of the muscles of the neck – superior trapezius and sternocleidomastoid – between individuals with and without front head posture and to examine the correlation between kinesthesia cervico-cephalic and cranio-vertebral angle.
The results of the present study suggest that head-to-head kinesthesia and neck muscle activation patterns can be significantly altered in people with forward head posture. In addition, cervicocephalic kinesthesia is significantly associated with the severity of forward head posture.
August 2019
Article Title: Correlation between cervical lordosis and herniated cervical disc in young patients with neck pain
Cervical straightness and herniated discConclusion: The severity of the herniated discs was greater in the groups with cervical straightness and cervical inversion than in the group with cervical lordosis (normal).
With the improvement of the cervical lordotic curvature, the degree of disc herniation decreased and the height of the disc space increased. The degree of herniated disc and compression of the cervical spinal cord is inversely correlated with cervical lordosis in young patients with neck pain, and the degree of herniated disc and the height of the disc space can be recovered with the recovery of the cervical lordotic curvature. These findings may indicate a link between cervical curvature and degenerative changes that have important clinical implications.
July 2018
Article Title: Association Between Cervical Lordotic Curvature and Cervical Muscle Cross Section in Patients with Loss of Cervical Lordosis
Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between cervical muscle imbalance, including extensor muscle weakness, and loss of cervical lordosis. An exercise program focused on strengthening the cervical extensor muscles and restoring the balance of the flexor and extensor muscles is recommended for patients with loss of cervical lordosis.
August 2017
Cervical straightness angle and cervical spondylosisArticle title: Kinematic analysis of the relationship between Modic changes and sagittal equilibrium parameters in the cervical spine
Conclusion: The present study has demonstrated that a high T1 slope (editor’s note: head tilted forward) is a potential risk factor for the development of Modic changes (editor’s note: arthritic changes) due to an alteration in sagittal balance, in particularly in the cervical segment C5-6.
Summary :
These different studies clearly show an association between on the one hand the loss of cervical lordosis or forward head posture and on the other hand neck pain, joint wear (cervical osteoarthritis) and contractions of certain muscles and weaknesses in the neck. other muscles at the cervical level.
In the next article, I will cite articles about the links between yr head posture and headaches and migraines.
Apart from that, if you are interested to know about 5 Back Workouts to Strengthen Your Spine then visit our Health category.
