The physical characteristics of patients with neck stiffness

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  • 肩こりを有する者の身体的特徴について
  • カタコリ オ ユウスル モノ ノ シンタイテキ トクチョウ ニ ツイテ

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<p>BACKGROUND: Many patients visit the orthopedic clinic complaining of neck stiffness. However, there are no reports on the physical characteristics of patients with neck stiffness.</p><p>METHODS: We compared and examined 124 patients in a neck stiffness group (46 men and 78 women) and 90 in a normal group (15 men and 75 women). We evaluated cervical extension strength, cervical flexion strength, flexion/extension ratio, back strength, neck circumference, weight, and handgrip. We also took X-rays of cervical vertebrae in the neck stiffness group and further divided patients into a group consisting of those with kyphosis at an angle of more than 10゜ with forward bending, and a group consisting of those without kyphosis.</p><p>RESULTS: There were significant differences between the women in the neck stiffness group and the women in the normal group. The average age of the women in the stiff neck group was lower than that of the women in the normal group, and back muscle strength in the former group was also decreased. On the other hand, there were no significant differences between men in the stiff neck group and men in the normal group.</p><p>DISCUSSION: We found that the reason why those in the stiff neck group had kyphosis on X-ray was aging, relating to flexibility of skeleton. Moreover, we found that there were no significant differences between men and women in the stiff neck group with regard to age and flexion/extension ratio, excluding other physical abilities.</p><p>CONCLUSION: It is necessary to normalize the flexion/extension ratio by muscle strength exercise in patients with a stiff neck associated with muscle strength decline. The flexion/extension ratio is useful for its functional value in head support and good posture.</p>

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