title: Comparison of the Cross-Sectional Area of Longus Colli Muscle Between Patients With Cervical Radicular Pain and Healthy Controls.
abstract: Previous studies have shown atrophy of paravertebral lumbar muscles in patients with lumbar radicular pain and have proposed rehabilitative approaches based on these findings. However, changes in cervical paravertebral muscles in patients with cervical radicular pain are still unknown.
  
  
  
  The aim of this study was to compare the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the longus colli muscle (LCM) in patients with cervical radicular pain and healthy controls via ultrasound measurement.
  
  
  
  Case-control study.
  
  
  
  Outpatients who came for treatment to the neurosurgery clinic.
  
  
  
  A total of 20 patients with more than 4 weeks of cervical radicular pain and 20 healthy matched (for body mass index, age, and gender) control subjects.
  
  
  
  Ultrasound measurements.
  
  
  
  The CSA of the LCM at the level of C5-C6 was measured by ultrasound with the subject in supine position. Also, Neck Disability Index (NDI), and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were reported by patients. An independent-sample t test was used for investigation of differences in CSA and other variables in both groups.
  
  
  
  A total of 20 patients with cervical radicular pain with a mean age of 42.4 years (standard deviation [SD] = 7 years) and 20 healthy matched controls with mean age of 40.7 years (SD = 7 years) participated in the study. Patients with cervical radicular pain showed smaller CSA of the LCM bilaterally compared with controls (mean difference: 0.37 [SD = 0.15]; P < .001). In the patient group, there were no significant differences between the CSA of the LCM in the involved and noninvolved sides. No correlations between the CSA of the LCM and VAS, Neck Disability Index, symptom duration, gender, BMI, and age of the patients were found.
  
  
  
  This is the first study to show via ultrasound assessment that patients with cervical radicular pain had smaller bilateral CSA of the LCM in comparison with healthy controls. It is also not clear whether atrophy of the LCM in patients with cervical radicular pain is a consequence or a cause of the pain. Reduction in the stability of the neck due to atrophy of the LCM could make the cervical spine region susceptible to more injuries, which might be prevented by functional and strengthening exercises.
  
  
  
  III.
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Spine Division, Noorafshar Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Hospital, Tehran, Iran∗.
authors.forename: Pardis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Noormohammadpour
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran(†).
authors.forename: Azime
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dehghani-Firouzabadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran(‡).
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mansournia
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurorehabilitation Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran(§).
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mohseni-Bandpei
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Sports Medicine Department, Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran(‖).
authors.forename: Navid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moghaddam
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Department, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran(¶).
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miri
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, No 7, Al-e Ahmad St., Tehran, Iran; Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Spine Division, Noorafshar Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Hospital, Tehran, Iran(#). Electronic address: ramin_kordi@tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Ramin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kordi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D064131:Back Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods