title: A pilot study on changes in passive range of motion in the cervical spine, for children aged 0-5 years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the values for passive range of motion (PROM) in rotation and lateral flexion of the neck, for children aged 3.5-5 years, and to compare the results with the measurements carried out on the same group of children as infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three children (10 females) were assessed in PROM in rotation and lateral flexion of the neck. Both measurements were performed with the children in a lying position using a large protractor. The dependent t-test was used to compare PROM with the PROM from an earlier study when the children were infants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PROM of the neck was found to be a mean 100° in rotation and 70° in lateral flexion at the age of 3.5-5 years. There was a significant decrease in rotation when comparing the measurements with values from infancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that there is a decrease in PROM in rotation during the first 5 years of life, and that PROM in lateral flexion remains unchanged.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Gothenburg, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. anna.ohman@vgregion.se
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Öhman
authors.forename: Eva Re
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Beckung
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology*; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012016:Reference Values