Effects of lumbar lordosis assistive support on craniovertebral angle and mechanical properties of the upper trapezius muscle in subjects with forward head posture.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lumbar lordosis assistive support (LLAS) on craniovertebral angle (CVA) and mechanical properties of the upper trapezius (UT) muscle in subjects with forward head posture (FHP).
[Subjects and Methods] This study recruited 20 subjects with FHP. CVA and muscle tone, viscoelasticity, and stiffness of the UT were measured using Myoton in all subjects in a sitting position with LLAS and in a neutral sitting position. The order of measurements was randomized and the mean values were calculated twice.
[Results] The sitting position with LLAS showed a significantly greater improvement than the neutral sitting position with regard to CVA and muscle tone, viscoelasticity, and stiffness of the UT.
[Conclusion] We suggest that the sitting position using LLAS induces the maintenance of normal neck posture and a reduction in the muscle tone of the UT in the subjects with FHP.

INTRODUCTION

Forward head posture (FHP) is commonly detected in patients with a neck problem and a posture in which the head is placed anteriorly above the trunk1). FHP is common in people who work long hours in sitting position and has been associated with neck pain and decreased range of motion2). Moreover, this neck problem often causes psychological disabilities in daily living, such as discomfort or depression3).

Craniovertebral angle (CVA) of people with FHP is less than 51 degrees, and this is closely related to the neck pain4). Neck pain in these patients was found associated with increased muscle tone and hyperactivity of the upper trapezius (UT) muscle5). Thus, it is very important to prevent induction of FHP for a successful treatment of the neck pain. Prevention of FHP may help induce a correct posture and reduce the hyperactivation and hypertonus of the UT muscle.

Long sitting position reduces the lumbar lordosis, while the lumbar lordosis reduction produces FHP. This can cause back pain, because it increases the intra-pressure of inter-vertebral discs6). Therefore, the maintenance of lumbar lordotic curve during the sitting position is a key factor to prevent FHP and the UT fatigue.

Surface EMG is commonly used to objectify the UT problems. Surface EMG, however, does not directly reflect muscle mechanical properties, such as muscle tension7). Measurements using Myoton to quantify muscle mechanical properties, such as muscle tension, can be easily performed in clinical settings. Evaluation of muscle mechanical properties using Myoton is closely related to muscle activity generated by surface EMG8).

Andersson et al. reported that the use of lumbar support increased pelvic anterior tilt and the lumbar lordosis9). Recently, Ko et al. reported that the reduction of FHP in healthy elderly was greater in the sitting position with a lumbar roll support than in the neutral sitting position. These results suggest that the lumbar roll support induces upright lumbar lordosis during the sitting position10). Yoo et al. found that the trunk muscle activity was different according to the application height of the lumbar support device, and authors suggested that this device was claimed to prevent musculoskeletal disorders11). In another study, Horton et al. reported that applying a lumbar support roll to a chair could reduce FHP12). Previous studies, however, did not confirm the effect of the lumbar lordosis device on muscle properties of the UT9,10,11,12). In addition, few studies on lumbar lordosis device for people with FHP were performed.

Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the lumbar lordosis assistive support (LLAS) on CVA and mechanical properties of the UT in subjects with FHP.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This study included 20 subjects with FHP among Gachon University staff and students. Subjects were included if they had a CVA of 51 degrees or less13). The following exclusion criteria were applied: any neck, shoulder, or back operative experience, or neurological signs in arms and legs. All subjects participated in the experiment with voluntary consent. The general characteristics of the subjects are presented in Table 1. This study was approved by the Gachon University Institutional Review Board (1044396-201708-HR-133-01).

Table 1.

General characteristics

	Subjects
Gender (male/female)	10/10
Age (years)a	26.6 ± 3.8
Body Mass Index (kg/m2)a	21.6 ± 2.4
Craniovertebral angle (degrees)a	46.8 ± 1.5

aVariables are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (SD).

All subjects were randomly placed in the neutral sitting position and in sitting position with LLAS. CVA and mechanical properties of the UT were evaluated in the sitting position. All measurements were performed by a single experimenter. LLAS (Chiropractic cushion, Balancecord Inc., Republic of Korea) used in this study is a tool that helps to maintain the posture of the lumbar lordosis during the sitting position. Additionally, it has a belt that fixes the subject on the chair. Once LLAS is fixed on the chair, the lordotic curve of the subject is fitted with LLAS comfortably. The application method of LLAS is as follows. The subjects sit up straight on the chair with two feet put on the floor. The LLAS was applied to L2–4 area to support lordotic curve.

CVA was measured in the sitting position using a digital camera and ImageJ software (National Institutes of Health, USA). The distance between the subjects and the camera was 80 cm. The posture of the subjects allowed their feet resting naturally on the floor and both hands laying comfortably on the knees12). The height of the chair was 45 cm. The angle between the floor and the back of the chair was 90 degrees. Subsequently, the measurer attached the body markers to the external auditory meatus and the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra of the subjects. CVA was measured between the vertical line connecting the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra to a parallel line to the ground and the line connecting the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra to the external auditory meatus. The measurement was performed by one measurer, and the average value was calculated two times. In a previous study, the reliability of the test-retest of the CVA was 0.88–0.9814).

Mechanical properties of the UT were measured using Myoton PRO (Myoton AS, Tallinn, Estonia). The mechanical properties of the UT were determined based on muscle tone (Hz), stiffness (N/m), and viscoelasticity (logarithmic decrement of dampening oscillations). Measurements were performed with the subject in a sitting position on the chair in a right posture and in a quiet environment. All measurements were performed in a relaxed state with no force, and the postures were analyzed with the subject in the sitting position with LLAS and in the neutral sitting position. The measuring point of the UT was assessed based on the midpoint of the horizontal line connected from the acromion to the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra. The probe was measured perpendicular to the skin. In a previous study, the intra-class correlation coefficients of the UT measurements were 0.97–0.9915).

All collected data were analyzed using SPSS 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). The general characteristics of the subjects were identified through descriptive statistics. The normality of dependent variables was confirmed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. The differences in dependent variables were confirmed using a paired t-test. The significance level was set at α=0.05.

RESULTS

CVA in the sitting position with LLAS was significantly higher than that in the neutral sitting position (p<0.05; Table 2). Moreover, muscle tone, stiffness, and viscoelasticity of the UT in the sitting position with LLAS were significantly lower than those in the neutral sitting position (p<0.05; Table 3).

Table 2.

Comparison of craniovertebral angle during the two sitting

	Neutral	LLAS
	Mean ± standard deviation	Mean ± standard deviation
Craniovertebral angle	46.82 ± 1.46	50.92 ± 1.94*

LLAS: lumbar lordosis assistive support. *p<0.05.

Table 3.

Comparison of muscle tone, viscoelasticity, stiffness on upper trapezius during the two sitting

	Neutral	LLAS
	Mean ± standard deviation	Mean ± standard deviation
Muscle tone	17.3 ± 1.7	19.3 ± 2.2*
Viscoelasticity	1.07 ± 0.10	0.90 ± 0.08*
Stiffness	375.4 ± 58.5	320.8 ± 45.1*

LLAS: lumbar lordosis assistive support. *p<0.05.

DISCUSSION

FHP was found to be associated with decreased CVA and change of lumbar lordosis. We used LLAS, which determines the appropriate curve of lumbar lordosis in the sitting position, to confirm the effect on CVA and the mechanical properties of the UT of the subjects with FHP. As a result, CVA while sitting with LLAS was significantly higher than that in the neutral sitting position, and mechanical properties of UT were significantly lower than those measured in the neutral sitting.

The first finding of the present study was that the CVA while sitting with LLAS was higher than that in the neutral sitting. This result is consistent with previous studies showing that lumbar lordosis affects FHP. Black et al. found that pelvic anterior tilting produces lumbar lordosis, which induces correct posture of the neck19). After applying LLAS in this study, the positive changes of mechanical properties of UT suggest that LLAS induces correct lumbar lordosis. Majeske et al. stated that the use of a lumbar support pillow in the sitting position can maintain sitting position effectively as it maintains the lumbar lordosis in place16). Andersson et al. reported that the use of lumbar support increased pelvic anterior tilt and improved lumbar lordosis, which, in turn, would have a positive impact on the neck posture9). In addition, Ko et al. reported that sitting with lumbar roll support reduced FHP compared to the neutral sitting10).

The second result of the present study is that the mechanical properties of UT were lower while sitting with LLAS than in the neutral sitting position. In this study, several mechanical properties of the UT, namely muscle tone, viscoelasticity, and stiffness, were evaluated. These three variables were reportedly found highly related to each other. The sitting position with LLAS showed a greater improvement in CVA, muscle tone, viscoelasticity, and stiffness of the UT than the neutral sitting position. This fact suggests that the reduction of FHP decrease muscle tone of the UT.

Increased muscle tone of the UT is a dysfunction of the shoulder, neck, and the muscles that compensate when proper movement does not occur15). Computer workers who must work for long periods of sitting will have increased muscle activity of the UT resulting in lower muscle activity of the lower trapezius and serratus anterior. This eventually leads to an increase in the incidence of the neck and shoulder pain due to the imbalance of the shoulder joint and the increase in FHP17, 18). Therefore, the application of LLAS during sitting position in this study may help reduce the incidence of shoulder and neck pain.

This study has several limitations. First, the sample size was small. Second, the subjects participating in this study were only people with FHP. Thus, the result cannot be generalized to all patients with neck pain. Third, this study only confirmed a short-term effects of LLAS. Fourth, we only identified the changes of mechanical properties of UT following LLAS application. In the future, the effect of LLAS should be clarified by supplementing these limitations.

In conclusion, this study was performed to investigate the effects of LLAS on CVA and mechanical properties of the UT of subjects with FHP. As a result, CVA in the sitting position with LLAS was significantly higher than that in the neutral sitting while the muscle tone of the UT was significantly lower in the sitting position with LLAS. The results of the study suggest that sitting with LLAS may have a positive effect on CVA and muscle tone of the UT in subjects with FHP.

Conflict of interest

No conflicts of interest.