زهرا صلاح زاده

Assessing the alignment or posture of the spine is one of the important stages of the examination in patients with musculoskeletal disorders, such as head and cervical spine pain. The aim of this study was to determine the difference in the alignment or posture of the head and cervical vertebrae in male and female students.

The research was a cross-sectional study in which 175 male and female students studying at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences were investigated using a convenience sampling method. Analysis of the alignment of the head and cervical vertebrae was performed in static and dynamic positions in the sagittal plane, in a sitting position. The photographic method was used to evaluate the alignment. An independent sample t-test was applied to statistical analysis.

In this study, 100 female and 75 male students were examined. The age range of the participants was 18 to 27 years. In the static sitting position, the difference in the lower cervical angle and cervical deviation in the neutral position of the head and neck between the male and females was significant (p<0.05). During movement, significant changes were observed in some angles (p<0.05).

Based on the results of this study, the static and dynamic alignment of the head and cervical vertebrae in male and female students were different in the sagittal plane. It is recommended to carry out more kinesiology studies to quantitatively analyze the movements of different parts of the spine in both sexes.

Evaluation of the alignment of the trunk and lower limbs in people with forward head posture (FHP)assumes critical importance due to biomechanical connection. The present study aimed to assess the reliability of trunk, pelvis, and lower limb posture assessment in people with FHP by the photogrammetric method.

This observational study was conducted on 60 male and female participants, 32 with FHP and 28 without FHP, from students of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. The mean age of participants was 23.30±2.66 years. A craniovertebral angle of 48 degrees or less is known as FHP. To evaluate intratester reliability, postural evaluation was repeated one week apart by the first examiner and one hour apart by the second examiner to assess intertester reliability. The measured angles included vertical and lateral alignment of the body, vertical alignment of the trunk and lower limbs, the horizontal alignment of the pelvis, as well as the angle of the hip and ankle joints.

The results of the intraclass correlation coefficient based on Munro's scale demonstrated that in the FHP group, the vertical straight angle of the body had the lowest (0.73), and the hip joint angle had the highest intertester reliability coefficient (0.96). Considering intertester reliability in the FHP group, the lower limb alignment was the lowest (0.88), and the hip joint angle had the highest reliability coefficient (0.97).

The evaluation of trunk and lower limb posture in people with FHP by photogrammetry can be used as a quantitative method with high reliability

The alignment of the spine can alter the loading of spinal cord segments at different parts. Forward head posture by altering the position of the neck in relation to the body is effective in producing pain and disability in the spinal cord. The purpose of this study was to explore the reliability analysis of the neck and trunk endurance tests in peoples with and without forward head posture and also to evaluate the effect of gender and forward head posture on neck and trunk muscle endurance.

In this descriptive-analytic study, 67 students, including 40 males (mean age 23±1.5 years, mean height 173.6±16 cm, mean weight 69.13±8.69 kg) and 27 females (mean age 23.29±3.31 years, mean height 162.65±5.29 cm and mean weight 59.45±7.04 kg) were randomly assigned to the study and divided into two groups of with and without forward head posture based on craniovertebral angle measured through photography. Deep neck flexor and extension, transverse abdominis, flexors, extensors, and lateral flexor trunk muscles' endurance were assessed in females and males in a test-retest reliability design with one-week interval.

Neck and trunk endurance test were obtained excellent reliability (0.93-0.99). The interaction between forward head posture and gender was significant for the double prone straight leg raise endurance test (P<0.05). It means that the endurance of lower trunk extensor muscles were lower in males with forward head posture (P<0.05; difference=20.28), but no difference was observed in females (P>0.05). The effect of forward head posture was also significant in the Sorenson endurance test (P<0.05). The neck and trunk muscles endurance generally and significantly were lower in females compared to males (P<0.05; difference=9.37-176.68).

Gender is an important factor in the presence of forward head posture affecting trunk muscle endurance. In examining the complications of forward head posture, it is advisable to pay attention to the function of the whole spinal cord.