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Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s degree in technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2013. / Background: Forward head posture (FHP) is a common postural abnormality that is commonly associated with weak deep cervical flexor muscles (DCF). The craniovertebral (CV) angle lies between a horizontal line running through C7 spinous process and a line connecting the C7 spinous process to the tragus of the ear. The smaller the angle, the greater the forward head posture. Weak DCF musculature and FHP has been linked to cervical dysfunction in the short and long term such as cervicogenic headache and premature development of cervical regional degenerative joint disease. Improving isometric endurance and neuromotor control of the DCF muscles using craniocervical flexion exercise (CCFE) has been shown to be efficient in patients experiencing cervical dysfunction such as headache, although the relevance of CCFE has not been established in the asymptomatic group. Deficiency in the activity of these muscles can be accurately measured using craniocervical flexion testing (CCFT). There is a paucity of information regarding the definitive relationship between weakness of the DCF and FHP in asymptomatic participants. This research will help establish an efficient and safe prophylactic treatment protocol preventing long term sequela associated with FHP. Objectives: To determine the effect of CCFE on cervical posture by assessment of the CV angle in asymptomatic participants as well as to determine the effect of CCFE on cervical range of motion by assessment of flexion, extension, bilateral rotation and lateral flexion movements in asymptomatic participants whilst measuring the effect of CCFE on isometric endurance and neuromotor control of the DCF muscles assessed by the CCFT in asymptomatic participants. Method: This is a quantitative pre/post intervention study comparing the results of one group of 45 asymptomatic participants before and after the CCFE protocol has been allocated to them over a period of 3-5 weeks. Participants FHP was assessed by measuring the CV angle. This was done by marking the C7 spinous process and extending a horizontal line toward the shoulder. Then marking the tragus of the ipsilateral ear and measuring the angle using the smart tool angle finder (MD products). iv CCFT measurements were taken and the CCFE protocol allocated to those who qualified to take part in the study. Lastly, cervical range of motion was measured. This group received a home exercise protocol of 3 sets of 10 supine chin tucks daily with each repetition being held for 10 seconds. The technique was first ensured by the researcher prior to leaving the consultation rooms and an exercise diary was given to the participant until the 5th and final consultation to record the progress and efficiency of the home programme as well as any complaints regarding this. Result: The asymptomatic group included in the study improved in both the seated and standing CV angle measurements in that the CV was greater at the conclusion of the pre/post intervention (p=0.00000002) and (p=0.000003) respectively . Cervical range of motion showed improvement in some but not all ranges. Flexion showed a reduction in range of motion (p=0.0086) which was significant. Extension showed an improvement in range of motion (p=0.0000002) which was significant. Rotation toward the left (p=0.00003) and right (p=0.00063) showed an improvement in range of motion which was significant. Lateral flexion showed improvement which was not significant in both, left (p=0.0145) and right (p= 0.24985) ranges of motion. Neuromotor control showed 100 percent improvement in that all 45 of the participants were able to perform CCFT correctly through all five stages at conclusion of the study. Conclusion: Therefore it can be concluded that asymptomatic participants will benefit from CCFEs In terms of CV angle improvement, cervical range of motion as well as neuromotor control of the DCF muscles.

M.Tech.

A presente dissertação de mestrado teve como foco a avaliação dos aspectos biomecânicos, da coluna cervical e de exercícios do pescoço, associados à diminuição da ação dos flexores profundos e aumento da ação dos flexores superficiais. Estas mudanças nas ações musculares estão associadas a indivíduos com cervicalgia crônica e a investigação deste trabalho pode levar a uma melhor compreensão desta lesão e consequente melhor tratamento. Na busca desta meta foram desenvolvidos quatro estudos apresentados ao longo desta dissertação. Estudo 1: Uma revisão sistemática com metanálise comparando a capacidade de produção de força entre indivíduos com cervicalgia e indivíduos saudáveis. Para este estudo foram incluídos 20 artigos que compararam capacidade de produção de força entre os grupos, onde foi identificado que indivíduos com cervicalgia crônica apresentam menor capacidade de produção de força para flexão, extensão e flexão lateral direita e esquerda. Estudo 2: A partir do estudo 1 surgiu o estudo observacional desta dissertação o qual comparou a força dos flexores profundos e superficiais da coluna cervical e a força articular cervical durante exercícios de fortalecimento do pescoço através de um modelo biomecânico. Para este estudo 20 participantes foram avaliados durante exercícios dinâmicos e isométricos de flexão, extensão e flexão lateral direita. A carga do exercício foi definida em 15-25% da capacidade de produção de força pescoço e foram feitas 5 repetições para o exercício dinâmico e mantida por 10 segundos para o exercício isométrico. As forças musculares e articulares foram estimadas pelo modelo biomecânico Biomechanics of Bodies e as variáveis cinéticas e cinemáticas foram coletadas com o BTS Smart-DX. O exercício de flexão dinâmica apresentou os maiores valores de força para os flexores profundos ao mesmo tempo que os flexores superficiais não apresentaram diferenças entre a flexão isométrica e dinâmica. Estudo 3: Este estudo foi realizado visando dar maior segurança e robustez às respostas do modelo biomecânico do Estudo 2, correlacionando as respostas de força muscular, estimada com o modelo biomecânico, e a atividade muscular com eletromiógrafo, dos músculos esternocleidomastóides direito e esquerdo. As correlações se apresentaram em média excelentes tanto para o esternocleidomastoide direito (r=0.69±0.20) e esquerdo (r=0.71±0.22), estimulando a confiança nos resultados obtidos pelo modelo biomecânico para os músculos flexores profundos da cervical. Estudo 4: Este estudo avaliou diferentes métodos de contração voluntária isométrica máxima para normalizar o sinal eletromiográfico do esternocleidomastoide e escaleno anterior. Com base nos resultados deste estudo, o método proposto em flexão lateral com a cabeça rotada foi o que apresentou a maior ativação para o esternocleidomastoide e o método convencional a que apresentou a maior ativação para o escaleno anterior. Portanto é sugerido uma adaptação ao método apresentado na literatura para contração voluntária isométrica máxima do esternocleidomastoide. Com base nestes quatro estudos, podemos afirmar que indivíduos com cervicalgia apresentam menor capacidade de produção de força, mostrando a necessidade de exercícios de fortalecimento, além da função de hipoalgesia normal do exercício. Levando em conta a diminuição da força dos flexores profundos cervical e aumento da ativação dos flexores superficiais em indivíduos com cervicalgia crônica, o exercício de flexão cervical dinâmica parece ser o mais indicapado para o fortalecimento dos flexores profundos, ao mesmo tempo que reduz a ativação dos flexores superficiais. / The present dissertation focused on the evaluation of the biomechanical aspects of the cervical spine and neck exercises, associated to the decrease of the action of the deep flexors and increase of the action of the superficial flexors. These changes in muscular actions are associated with individuals with chronic neck pain and the investigation of this work can lead to a better understanding of this lesion and consequent better treatment. In the pursuit of this aim, four studies were developed through this dissertation. Study 1: A systematic review with metanalysis comparing neck strength between individuals with neck pain and healthy controls. For this study, 20 articles comparing neck strength between groups and it was found that individuals with chronic neck pain have lower neck strength in flexion, extension, right and left lateral flexion. Study 2: From the development of study 1 came the observational study which compared the superficial, deep neck flexor muscle force and joint force during neck strengthening exercises using a biomechanical model. For this study, 20 participants were evaluated during dynamic and isometric exercises of flexion, extension and right lateral flexion. The exercise load was defined as 15-25% of the neck strength and 5 repetitions were made for the dynamic exercise and maintained for 10 seconds for the isometric exercise. Muscle and joint forces were estimated with the biomechanical model the Biomechanics of Bodies, and the kinetic and kinematic variables were collected using BTS Smart-DX. The dynamic neck flexion exercise showed the highest deep neck flexors muscle force values at the same time that the superficial neck flexors did not present differences between the isometric and dynamic flexion. Study 3: This study was carried out aiming at giving greater safety and robustness to the responses of the biomechanical model of Study 2, correlating the muscular force responses, estimated with the biomechanical model, and the muscular activity with electromyograph, of the right and left sternocleidomastoid muscles. Correlations were on average high for both right sternocleidomastoid (r = 0.69 ± 0.20) and left (r = 0.71 ± 0.22), ensuring the results obtained by the biomechanical model for the deep neck flexor muscles. Study 4: This study evaluated different methods of maximal isometric voluntary contraction to normalize the electromyographic signal of the sternocleidomastoid and anterior scalene. Based on the results of this study, the method proposed performing a lateral flexion with a rotated head was the one that presented the highest activation for the sternocleidomastoid however the conventional method was the one that presented the highest activation for the anterior scalene. Therefore, we suggest an adaptation to the method presented in the literature for the maximum voluntary isometric contraction of the sternocleidomastoid. Based on these four studies, we can affirm that individuals with neck pain have a lower neck strength, showing the need for strengthening exercises, in addition to the normal hypoalgesia function of the exercise. Regarding the decreased deep neck flexors force and increased superficial neck flexors force in individuals with chronic neck pain, the dynamic neck flexion exercise it seems to be the most suitable for the strengthening of deep flexors, while reducing the activation of the superficial flexors.

Objectives: To identify correlates of psychological distress and to investigate how coping skills, anxiety and depression are related in a group of head and neck cancer patients 6-12 months after their diagnosis. Methods: We evaluated in 107 head and neck cancer patients their anxiety and depression levels using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and their Coping strategies using the Ways of Coping Checklist. Results: There were statistically significant associations between gender and anxiety level, and between living arrangements, cancer site, time since treatment, tumor stage and depressive symptoms. Results also showed that patients used a variety of coping strategies. Different coping strategies were used in subjects with high versus those with low levels of anxiety or depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Data show several correlates of psychological distress in head and neck cancer patients. They also suggest that coping strategies of these patients vary according to their level of psychological distress.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Alberta, 2010. / A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology. Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on July 25, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (doctoral)--Lund University, 1998. / Added t.p. with thesis statement inserted.