Do cervical spine angles differ in patients with hypermobility who suffer from neck pain?

BACKROUND: There has been a noted increase in the number of patients experiencing chronic neck pain who exhibit diminished cervical lordosis upon radiographic examinations. While neck overuse contributes to this trend, early identification and treatment of predisposing factors such as hypermobility can potentially mitigate this increase.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to explore the impact of hypermobility on cervical angles, neck disability and health quality in patients experiencing neck pain.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants aged between 20 and 40 years with neck pain persisting for more than three months were recruited. Patients were stratified based on hypermobility status. Lateral cervical radiographs were obtained to measure various cervical angles. Disability associated with neck pain and health-related quality of life were assessed. The influence of hypermobility on these parameters in neck pain patients was examined.

RESULTS

Hypermobile patients with neck pain exhibited significantly lower C0-2 Cobb angle (Cohen's d: 0.60), decreased C2-7 angle measured by Jackson physiological stress lines (Cohen's d: 0.42), increased cranial tilt (Cohen's d: 0.561), and greater C2-7 sagittal vertical axis (Cohen's d: 0.36) compared to non-hypermobile patients with neck pain. No significant differences were observed in neck disability or health-related quality of life between hypermobile and non-hypermobile neck pain patients. There was a weak association between a more physiologic cervical lordosis and a lower disability scores among hypermobile patients with neck pain.

CONCLUSION

Hypermobility may lead to alterations in cervical spinal angles in young adults with neck pain. Early detection and intervention could help maintain cervical angles and prevent lordosis reduction.