Document Detail


A magnetic resonance imaging investigation into the function of the deep cervical flexors during the performance of craniocervical flexion.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20534315     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: Evidence suggests that the deep cervical flexors (DCFs) are important for the control of the cervical spine. The craniocervical flexion (CCF) test is a clinical test developed for patients with neck pain disorders based on the action of the DCFs. Because these muscles are deeply situated, it is difficult to reach the DCFs with surface electromyography. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to measure these muscles in cross section. The objective of this study was (1) to determine the reliability of MRI for measuring cross-sectional area (CSA) of the longus colli (Lco) and longus capitis (Lca) and (2) to evaluate the changes in CSA during contraction.
METHODS: Thirty healthy subjects aged 29 +/- 9.3 years were imaged using MRI. The CSA of the Lco and Lca was evaluated at 4 different levels (C0-C1, C2-C3, C4-C5, and C6-C7) at rest and during CCF.
RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficients for the CSA of the Lco and Lca showed good to excellent reliability (0.73-0.92), except at the C4-C5 level. There was a significant increase in CSA of both Lco (F = 6.79, P = .015) and Lca (F = 19.20, P <or= .001) due to CCF, and this was at different levels. The highest increases in CSA occurred at the C0-C1 level for the Lca (11.1%) and at the C2-C3 level for the Lco (17.4%).
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the action of CCF resulted in a contraction of the Lco and Lca at different levels. The results indicate that MRI is a promising technique to evaluate changes in CSA during contraction.
Authors:
Barbara Cagnie; Roseline D'Hooge; Eric Achten; Dirk Cambier; Lieven Danneels
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics     Volume:  33     ISSN:  1532-6586     ISO Abbreviation:  J Manipulative Physiol Ther     Publication Date:  2010 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-06-10     Completed Date:  2010-12-07     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7807107     Medline TA:  J Manipulative Physiol Ther     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  286-91     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. barbara.cagnie@ugent.be
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Cervical Vertebrae / physiology
Confounding Factors (Epidemiology)
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Male
Movement / physiology
Muscle Contraction / physiology*
Neck Muscles / physiology*,  physiopathology
Neck Pain / physiopathology
Reproducibility of Results
Research Design

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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