Relationship between Movements of the Head and Neck and Spinal Alignment in a Sitting Posture

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the change in spinal alignment due to the movements of the head and neck. [Participants and Methods] The participants were 28 young men and 24 elderly men. While in a sitting position, they made movements of the head and neck in the neutral, flexion, and extension positions, and the spinal alignment (thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, sacral anteversion angle) was measured using a Spinal Mouse and compared among the three positions. [Results] There were significant differences in the thoracic kyphosis angle among the three conditions for both the young and elderly men. However, no significant differences were found in the lumbar lordosis and the sacral anteversion angles among the three conditions in both groups of men. [Conclusion] The results suggest that movements of the head and neck change the alignment of the thoracic spine, but not that of the lumbar or sacral spine.