Three-dimensional analysis of active cervical motion: the effect of age and gender.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the effects of age and gender on three-dimensional (3D) active cervical spine motion. DESIGN: This was a descriptive study. BACKGROUND: This study expanded on previous investigations of age and gender effects on single plane motion of the cervical spine. METHODS: Sixty female and 60 male asymptomatic, normal volunteers, aged between 20 and 59 years, were examined in a standardized seated position. The 3 SPACE Isotrak system was used to measure simultaneous 3D motion of the cervical spine. RESULTS: The mean range of all the primary movements decreased significantly with age. For flexion/extension the greatest decrease occurred between the 20- and 30-year-olds, whereas for both lateral flexion and rotation, significant differences were demonstrated in subjects aged two decades apart. The coupling of motion associated with rotation was significantly related to age. CONCLUSION: Age had a significant effect on all of the primary movements. Age had less effect on the range of the coupled movements, in that the only movements to be affected were lateral flexion and extension occurring during cervical rotation. Gender had no marked effect on the primary or the coupled movements. RELEVANCE: This study provides normative data for the effects of age and gender on three-dimensional analysis of active cervical spine motion, which can be used for comparison with specific patient populations. The high level of intra-subject test-retest reliability renders the3 SPACE system of value for clinical measurement of movement pre- and post-treatment intervention for cervical spine disorders.

Cervical headache: an investigation of natural head posture and upper cervical flexor muscle performance.

In this study, 60 female subjects, aged between 25 and 40 years, were divided into two equal groups on the basis of absence or presence of headache. A passive accessory intervertebral mobility (PAIVM) examination was performed to confirm an upper cervical articular cause of the subjects' headache and a questionnaire was used to establish a profile of the headache population. Measurements of cranio-cervical posture and isometric strength and endurance of the upper cervical flexor muscles were compared between the two groups of subjects. The headache group was found to be significantly different from the non-headache group in respect to forward head posture (FHP) (t = -5.98, p < 0.00005), less isometric strength (t = 3.43, p < 0.001) and less endurance (t = 8.71, p < 0.0005) of the upper cervical flexors. A statistically significant relationship was also established between natural head posture and isometric endurance of the upper cervical flexor musculature which demonstrated that FHP corresponded with a low endurance capacity (chi 2 = 13.2; p < 0.01). The outcome of this study highlights the need to screen for cervical etiology in patients who are suspected of suffering from common migraine.

Physiotherapy in diagnosis and treatment of the myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome.

Thirty-four patients with the Myofascial Pain Dysfunction (M.P.D.) syndrome of the masticatory system were investigated and treated using physiotherapy techniques. Resisted static contraction of the temporomandibular joints, passive movement tests of the muscles and electromyography indicated that the joint function was abnormal in all cases with minimal muscle involvement. Cervical spine tests indicated that pain referral from the cervical spine was involved in 19 of 34 patients (56%). Physiotherapy treatment armed at restoring a normal painless range of movement to the temporomandibular joint was successful in six of 10 patients (60%). Generalized relaxation therapy with biofeedback was successful in 19 of 24 patients (80%). It was found that with the five of 24 patients (20%) in whom generalized relaxation failed, there were significant psychiatric factors.

A preliminary report on the comparative value of bisgaard & quinaband-diachylon methods of treatment of venous ulceration.

In 1966, the Ulcer Clinic at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, South Australia, introduced the application of Quinaband and Diachylon bandages as a treatment for venous ulceration. Clinically, it appeared that the rate of healing using this method was as good, if not better, than that obtained with the Bisgaard method which was in use in the Department of Physical Medicine.