OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the partial biomechanical properties of the posterior occipital muscles (rectus capitis posterior major, rectus capitis posterior minor, and obliquus capitis inferior) in patients with cervical vertigo. METHODS: A total of 30 patients with cervical vertigo admitted from April 2024 to September 2024 were included in the vertigo group, and 30 age-and gender-matched healthy subjects were recruited as the normal group. In the vertigo group, there were 21 females and 9 males, with an average age of (24.00±2.25) years;in the normal group, there were 22 females and 8 males, with an average age of (23.00±3.00) years. Shear wave elastography was used to measure the thickness and stiffness of the posterior occipital muscles in both groups. RESULTS: In the vertigo group, there were no statistically significant differences in the Young's modulus values (E) of stiffness of the posterior occipital muscles (rectus capitis posterior major, rectus capitis posterior minor, obliquus capitis inferior) between the left and right sides(P>0.05). The Young's modulus values(E) of stiffness of the right posterior occipital muscles (rectus capitis posterior major, rectus capitis posterior minor, obliquus capitis inferior) in the cervical vertigo group were (39.66±8.21) kPa, (45.61±5.85) kPa, and (43.73±5.22) kPa, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the normal group 33.97(17.76) kPa, 41.38(8.99) kPa, 38.27(12.58) kPa, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). In the vertigo group, the Young's modulus values(E) of stiffness of the left rectus capitis posterior major and left obliquus capitis inferior were (40.41±9.13) kPa and (42.11±6.20) kPa, respectively, which were significantly greater than those in the normal group (33.30±11.31) kPa, 38.94(14.62) kPa, with statistically significant differences(P<0.05);however, there was no statistically significant difference in the left rectus capitis posterior minor between the two groups(P>0.05). In the vertigo group, there were no statistically significant differences in the stiffness of the posterior occipital muscles (rectus capitis posterior major, rectus capitis posterior minor, obliquus capitis inferior) between the left and right sides(P>0.05). Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences in the thickness of the bilateral posterior occipital muscles between the vertigo group and the normal group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION The posterior occipital muscles of patients with cervical vertigo are stiffer than those of healthy individuals, while there is no significant difference in muscle thickness between the two groups.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques/methods* ; Adult ; Vertigo/physiopathology* ; Neck Muscles/physiopathology* ; Young Adult

Objective: To expore the correlation between neck disability, neck pain and muscle strength in cervical pondylosis of office worker, and to provide scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of cervical spondylosis. Methods: In April 2021 ,234 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy treated in the Subsidiary Rehabilitation Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from April 2015 to April 2017 were selected, the correlation between Neck Disability Index (NDI) score, neck pain and muscle strength was analyzed using the Spearman rank correlation method. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the difference of maximum muscle strength of isometric contraction. Results: NDI score was negatively correlated with neck flexion, extension, and muscle strength in the left and right flexion directions (r(s)=-0.164, -0.169, -0.222, -0.176, P=0.012, 0.010, 0.001 , 0.007). In mild and moderate functional disorder patients, the muscle strength in flexion, extension and left and right flexion direction was greater, the difference was statistically significant (P <0.01). Conclusion: There is a negative correlation between cervical functional disorder and cervical muscle strength in office workers, suggesting that strengthening cervical muscle strength may be a way to improve cervical spine function.
Cervical Vertebrae ; Humans ; Muscle Strength/physiology* ; Neck Muscles/physiology* ; Neck Pain/physiopathology* ; Occupational Diseases/physiopathology* ; Range of Motion, Articular/physiology* ; Spondylosis/physiopathology*

PURPOSE: Whiplash associated disorders remain a major health problem in terms of impact on health care and on societal costs. Aetiology remains controversial including the old supposition that the cervical muscles do not play a significant role. This study examined the muscle activity from relevant muscles during rear-end impacts in an effort to gauge their influence on the aetiology of whiplash associated disorders. METHODS: Volunteers were subjected to a sub-injury level of rear impact. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to record cervical muscle activity before, during and after impact. Muscle response time and EMG signal amplitude were analysed. Head, pelvis, and T1 acceleration data were recorded. RESULTS: The activities of the cervical muscles were found to be significant. The sternocleidomastoideus, trapezius and erector spinae were activated on average 59 ms, 73 ms and 84 ms after the impact stimulus, respectively, prior to peak head acceleration (113 ms). CONCLUSION The cervical muscles reacted prior to peak head acceleration, thus in time to influence whiplash biomechanics and possibly injury mechanisms. It is recommended therefore, that muscular influences be incorporated into the development of the new rear-impact crash test dummy in order to make the dummy as biofidelic as possible.
Acceleration ; Accidents, Traffic ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Electromyography ; Head ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Models, Biological ; Neck Muscles ; physiopathology ; Reaction Time ; Whiplash Injuries ; etiology ; physiopathology

Professor FU Zhonghua's unique clinical experience of Fu's subcutaneous needling (FSN) for cervical spondylosis (CS) is discussed in this paper, which is analyzed from the aspects of recognition of CS pathogenesis, treatment mechanism of FSN, advantage indications of FSN for CS and examples of medical cases. Professor FU introduced the theory of myofascial trigger points (MTrP) into the field of the management of CS. The site of neck MTrP should be carefully examined, and FSN needles for single use are used to sweep the affected area or subcutaneous layer of adjacent upper limb. This method can rapidly improve ischemia and hypoxia state of the relevant muscles and prompt the self-recovery of neck muscles. During FSN treatment, reperfusion approach is recommended to adopt to improve the qi and blood circulation and recovery of neck function.
Acupuncture Analgesia ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Neck Muscles ; physiopathology ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Spondylosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Trigger Points ; Young Adult

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck Muscles ; physiopathology ; Trigger Points ; physiopathology ; Vertigo ; physiopathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo compare the differences of therapeutic effect of cervical spondylosis of neck type treated with acupuncture at starting and ending points of trapezius and the Jiaji (EX-B 2) points.

METHODSSixty cases of cervical spondylosis of neck type were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. In observation group, the acupoints related with starting and ending points of trapezius, such as Tianzhu (BL 10), Fengchi (GB 20), Quyuan (SI 13), Jugu (LI 16) and Ashi were punctured; in control group, Jiaji (EX-B 2) points of neck were punctured. The treatments were applied 5 times a week and 2 weeks made one course. The international simplified McGill scale was adoped to assess the scores of Pain Rating Index (PRI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Present Pain Intensity (PPI) before treatment and after one course treatment, and the therapeutic effects were measured.

RESULTSAfter treatment, all the scores were obviously reduced in both groups: (all P < 0.01), and the PRI-sensory subscore, PRI-affective subscore and total score in observation group reduced more obviously than those in control group, and there were statistically significant differences between groups (all P < 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences between groups in VAS and PPI score (both P > 0.05). The total effective rate of 96.7% (29/30) in observation group was superior to that of 70.0% (21/30) in control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of cervical spondylosis of neck type treated with acupuncture at the starting and ending points of trapezius is positive, which is better than that of acupuncture at the Jiaji (EX-B 2) points.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck Muscles ; physiopathology ; Spondylosis ; physiopathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe the histologic changes of the cervical muscles and intervertebral discs caused by dynamic dysequilibrium of frontally cervical muscles in rabbits.

METHODSThirty healthy rabbits with an average age of two years, half males and half females, the mean of weight in (2.75 +/- 0.25) kg, were divided randomly into model group and the sham operation group with fifteen rabbits in each group. The hibateral sternocleidomastoid muscles of rabbits in the model group were shortened by medical pipe to estabish the new animal model (the model was cervical dynamic dysequilibrium); and in the sham operative group, only exposed hibateral sternocleidomastoid muscles by operation. At the same time after two months, the histologic changes of the cervical muscles and intervertebral discs in all rabbits were observed, meanwhile, the myofibrillar amount and its cross section area were compared between two groups.

RESULTSAfter operation, the cervical muscles and intervertebral discs had significant change in model group, but no obvious change in sham operative group. The myofibrillar amount of frontal cervical muscles and back cervical muscles in model group was obviously lower than that of sham operative group (P < 0.05); likewise, the myofibrillar cross section area in model group was obviously lower than that of sham operative group (P < 0.05); the frontal cervical muscles was obviously change than the back cervical muscles.

CONCLUSIONThe cervical dynamic dysequilibrium caused by crispation of frontal cervical muscles can lead to pathologic degeneration of cervical muscles and intervertebral discs. The study may provide experimental proof for early cervical spondylopathy.

Animals ; Female ; Intervertebral Disc ; pathology ; Male ; Neck Muscles ; pathology ; physiology ; Rabbits ; Spasm ; pathology ; physiopathology

Child ; Humans ; Neck Muscles ; abnormalities ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Torticollis ; congenital ; physiopathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVEThe surgical anatomy and preservation of the accessory nerve in radical functional neck dissection were studied.

METHODSThirty-three cN(0) patients with oral cancers were entered into the study. Radical functional neck dissection were performed and the relations between the accessory nerve and its surrounding structures were recorded.

RESULTSThe accessory nerve going through or beneath the sternocleidomastoid muscle occurred in 82% (27/33) and 18% (6/33) of the patients respectively. Communicating branches between the accessory and the cervical nerves were found in 85% (28/33). There was 2 to 3 cm of the accessory nerve paralleled to the anterior border of the trapezius muscle before it entered the muscle in 70% (23/33). The dissection of the nerve needed 20 to 30 minutes. Twenty-seven percent of the patients had pathologically proved lymph node metastases.

CONCLUSIONSLooking for accessory nerve under the upper portion of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and above the middle point of the muscle posterior border is simple and safe. The point of the great auricular nerve going out the muscle is an important indicator for finding the accessory nerve.

Accessory Nerve ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Neoplasms ; surgery ; Neck Dissection ; methods ; Neck Muscles ; innervation