The effect of head and gaze orientation on spine kinematics during forward flexion.

The effect of head and gaze orientation on spine kinematics during forward flexion.
Hum Mov Sci. 2020 Apr;70:102590
Authors: Beaudette SM, Briar KJ, Mavor MP, Graham RB
Abstract
Compound, or awkward, spine postures have been suggested as a biomechanical risk factor for low back injury. This experiment investigates the influence of head (i.e. head-on-torso) and gaze (i.e. eye-in-head) orientation on three-dimensional (3D) neck and spine range of motion (ROM) during forward flexion movements. To emulate previous experimental protocols and replicate real-world scenarios, a sample of ten young, healthy males (mean ± standard deviation: age: 20.8 ± 1.03 years, height: 180.2 ± 7.36 cm, and mass: 81.9 ± 6.47 kg) completed forward flexion movements with a constrained and unconstrained pelvis, respectively. Surface kinematics were gathered from the head and spine (C7-S1). Movements were completed under a baseline condition as well as upward, downward, leftward, and rightward head and gaze orientations. For each condition, mean neck angle and inter-segmental spine (C7T1 through L5S1) ROM were evaluated. The results demonstrate that directed head and gaze orientations can influence the ROM of specific spine regions during a forward flexion task. With leftward and rightward directed head and gaze orientations, the neck became increasingly twisted and superior thoracic segments (i.e. C7T1-T2T3) were significantly more twisted durin...

Source: Human Movement Science - March 29, 2020 Category: Neurology Authors: Beaudette SM, Briar KJ, Mavor MP, Graham RB Tags: Hum Mov Sci Source Type: research