title: Decreased neck muscle strength in patients with the loss of cervical lordosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The loss of cervical lordosis is associated with some negative clinical outcomes. No previous study has examined cervical muscle strength, specifically in patients with the loss of cervical lordosis. This study aims to investigate whether there is weakness of the cervical muscles or an imbalance between cervical flexor and extensor muscle strength in patients with the loss of cervical lordosis compared with healthy controls matched by age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and employment status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two patients with the loss of cervical lordosis (23 F, 9 M) and 31 healthy volunteers (23 F, 8 M) were included in the study. Maximal isometric neck extension and flexion strength, and the strength ratio between extension and flexion were used as evaluation parameters. All measurements were conducted by a blinded assessor using a digital force gauge. The participants were positioned on a chair in a neutral cervical position and without the trunk inclined during measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maximal isometric neck extension and flexion strength values were significantly lower in the patients versus healthy controls (P<0.001 and P=0.040, respectively). The mean (SD) values of the extension/flexion ratio were 1.21 (0.34) in the patients and 1.46 ± 0.33 in the controls (P=0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our results, patients with the loss of cervical lordosis have reduced neck muscle strength, especially in the extensors. These findings may be beneficial for optimizing cervical exercise prescriptions.
authors.affiliation: Yuzuncu Yil University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Van, Turkey. Electronic address: mahmutalpayci@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mahmut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alpayci
authors.affiliation: Yuzuncu Yil University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Van, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Şenköy
authors.affiliation: Yuzuncu Yil University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Van, Turkey.
authors.forename: Veysel
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Delen
authors.affiliation: Van State Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Van, Turkey.
authors.forename: Volkan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Şah
authors.affiliation: Dicle University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yazmalar
authors.affiliation: Van State Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Van, Turkey.
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erden
authors.affiliation: Yuzuncu Yil University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Van, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toprak
authors.affiliation: Yuzuncu Yil University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Sports Medicine, Van, Turkey.
authors.forename: Şeyhmus
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008141:Lordosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Biomechanics; Cervical lordosis; Cervical spine; Neck muscles