Journal List > J Korean Soc Spine Surg > v.11(2) > 1035644

Park, Jeon, and Lee: Range of Motion of Cervical Spine in Normal Korean People

Abstract

Study design

A prospective study is to evaluate the cervical range of motion through the analysis of the plain films of the cervical spine.

Objective

To provide criteria validity for the cervical lordosis, range of motion and segmental motion of each segment using normal Korean adults, as guide lines for the radiographic diagnosis and treatment of cervical diseases.

Materials and Methods

One hundred and four healthy Korean adults were examined. Roentgenographic lateral views were taken in neutral, active flexion and extension positions. Measurement of the range of motion and segmental motion of the cervical spine, using the technique of Penning and Bakke, were independently made by two observers.

Results

The mean angle of the lordosis and the range of motion were 19.8°± 8.4° and 63.1°± 11.2°, respectively, and the range of motion of each segment were 10.3°± 2.9°, 9.2°± 3.0°, 13.5°± 7.2°, 15.1°± 4.3°, 15.6°± 4.4° and 13.0°± 5.0° on C1- 2, C2- 3, C3- 4, C4- 5, C5- 6 and C6- 7, respectively. There were no differences in the lordotic angle between the ages and genders. The range of motion decreased with increasing age, but there was no difference between genders. The segmental motion was no different between genders, but decreased significantly with increasing age on segments C1- 2, C5- 6 and C6- 7.

Conclusions

No significant differences were found in the range of cervical motion of each segment and the lordotic angle of the Korean population compared with those of other populations. The range of cervical motion also decreased with increasing age. These data provide guidelines in the dynamics of cervical spine and for the roentgenographic diagnosis and treatment of cervial diseases.

REFERENCES

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3). Bakke S. Rontgenologische Beobachtungen Uber die Bewegungen der Halswirbelsaule. Acta Radiol[Suppl]. 1931; 13:00–00. (cited from Dvorak J: Functional radiographic diagnosis of the cervical spine: Flexion/Extension. Spine 1988;13: 1748-1755).
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Fig. 1.
(A) Neutral standing position, the thorax fixed by two pellots from ventral and dorsal; (B) Active Extension, (C) Active flexion.
jkss-11-83f1.tif
Fig. 2.
Technique of measurement. (A) Buetti-Bauml technique, (B) Bakke technique, (C) Penning technique.
jkss-11-83f2.tif
Table 1.
Summary of the Normal Values Established by Different Authors(°)
  Bakke Buetti-Bauml De Seze Penning Dvorak Authors
C1-C2 11.7       12 10.8
C2-C3 12.6 11 13 12.5 10 9.9
C3-C4 15.4 17 15.5 18 15 14.7
C4-C5 15.1 21 19 20 19 18.4
C5-C6 20.4 23 27.5 21.5 20 18.3
C6-C7 17.0 19 17.5 15.5 19 15.3
Table 2.
Cervical Lordosis(°)
Age Male Female Mean± SD
20-29 19.3± 9.9 22.4± 9.2 20.8± 9.7
30-39 21.4± 9.5 20.7± 7.6 21.1± 8.4
40-49 17.6± 9.4 15.4± 5.6 16.5± 8.2
50-59 19.6± 9.6 19.6± 7.1 19.6± 8.0
60- 25.7± 6.8 16.0± 4.1 20.9± 7.4
Mean 20.7± 9.4 18.9± 7.2 19.8± 8.4

SD: Standard deviation

Table 3.
Segmental Motion during Flexion and Extension of Cervical Spine(°)
Age C1-2 C2-3 C3-4 C4-5 C5-6 C6-7 Mean
20-29 12.7 10.3 13.6 16.0 18.8 15.5 71.4
30-39 10.3 9.0 13.4 15.6 17.4 14.4 66.3
40-49 11.5 8.6 12.1 15.0 16.1 13.3 63.3
50-59 10.7 9.8 13.3 15.3 13.0 10.8 60.0
60- 9.6 8.5 15.1 13.3 13.7 11.5 54.9
Mean 10.8 9.2 13.5 15.1 15.6 13.0 63.0
P value p=0.01 NS NS NS p=0.00 p=0.01  

NS: Nonsignificant

Table 4.
Comparision of Segmental Motion between Male and Female(°)
  Male Female P value
C1-C2 11.4± 3.2 10.6± 2.3 NS
C2-C3 8.5± 2.9 9.9± 3.0 NS
C3-C4 14.0± 9.7 13.0± 3.6 NS
C4-C5 14.8± 4.0 15.4± 4.6 NS
C5-C6 15.1± 3.9 16.1± 4.8 NS
C6-C7 13.3± 4.8 12.7± 5.1 NS
Total 62.8± 9.5 63.3± 12.6 NS

NS: Nonsignificant

Table 5.
Comparision of Segmental Motion of the Cervical Spine between Free and Fixed Sternum and Thoracic Spine(°)
  Free Fixed P value
C1-C2 10.9± 3.2 11.5± 4.3 NS
C2-C3 9.9± 2.7 12.5± 2.9 NS
C3-C4 14.7± 2.4 15.5± 3.0 NS
C4-C5 18.4± 4.5 18.5± 4.3 NS
C5-C6 18.3± 4.5 19.1± 5.5 NS
C6-C7 15.3± 4.3 14.9± 3.7 NS
Total 73.2± 8.9 75.4± 8.7 NS

NS: Nonsignificant

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