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Dissertation
In vivo measurement of cervical spine flexibility: the effects of posture, age and osteoarthritis
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
1996
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00009777
Abstract
Many pathologies and treatment interventions affect the mechanical behavior of the cervical spine. However, current methods of assessment are limited to range of motion testing without regard to the applied loads. The goal of this study was to develop a reliable method of evaluating the load-displacement behavior of the cervical spine in vivo and to apply this method to evaluate the effects of a forward head posture, aging and osteoarthritis on the mechanical properties of the neck. Testing was conducted on young asymptomatic subjects (age < 35, n=20), older asymptomatic subjects (age > 50, n = 16) and subjects with documented degenerative changes and a history of neck-related symptoms (n = 17) using a unique six degree of freedom instrumented linkage. This linkage allowed measurement of the six degrees of freedom translatory and rotatory flexibility of the neck in an anatomical reference frame following Grood and Suntay parameters Range of motion and flexibility (deg/Nm) were calculated from the experimental load-displacement curves. For analysis, curves were divided into an early flexible portion (neutral zone), and a less flexible end portion (elastic zone). Parameters used in the analysis were neutral zone flexibility and range of motion, elastic zone flexibility, total flexibility and range of motion and the amount of torque tolerated. The results indicated acceptable test-retest reliability for range of motion and flexibility measurements performed several days apart (most ICC's above.7). Older and osteoarthritis subjects demonstrated decreased range of motion and tolerated less torque compared to young subjects. There were no differences between groups in flexibility. Forward head posture caused a significant decrease in axial rotation range of motion but did not affect lateral bending. In younger subjects, males were less flexible than females and males could tolerate greater amounts of passively applied torques. In vivo measurements of neck flexibility have several important differences from in vitro measurements and further work is necessary to clarify the role of these measurements.
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Details
- Title
- In vivo measurement of cervical spine flexibility
- Creators
- Philip W. McClure
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- x, 111 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Engineering (1970-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991021888963704721