Characteristics of head and neck alignment and function of deep cervical flexor muscles in patients with nonspecific neck pain.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives were to compare forward head posture (FHP) in natural and corrected head postures between patients with nonspecific neck pain (NSNP) and controls and to clarify the relationship between natural and corrected head posture angle differences and deep cervical flexor function. This study aimed to provide useful evidence for postural assessment and treatment in patients with NSNP.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 19 patients with NSNP reporting a pain score of 3-7 for at least 3 months and 19 participants with no neck pain within the previous 12 months were recruited. To evaluate FHP, the cranial rotation and vertical angles were measured using lateral head and neck photographs. The craniocervical flexion test was used to evaluate deep cervical flexor activation and endurance. We evaluated the head and neck alignment in natural and corrected head postures and the relationship between the degree of change and deep cervical flexor function.

RESULTS

FHP in the natural head posture did not differ between groups. In the corrected head posture, FHP was significantly smaller in the NSNP group than in the control group. In the NSNP group, the cranial rotation and vertical angles were significantly different between the natural and corrected head postures, and the angle difference correlated significantly with deep cervical flexor function.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with NSNP show hypercorrection in the corrected head posture, which may be correlated with deep cervical flexor dysfunction. Further investigation into the causal relationship between hypercorrection, deep neck flexor dysfunction, and neck pain is required.