Posture cervical spine

As early as 1700, Bernardino Ramazzini, one of the founders of occupational medicine, had associated certain physical activities with musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). He postulated that certain violent and irregular motions and unnatural postures of the body impair the internal structure [Snook et al., 1988]. Presently, much effort is directed toward abetter understanding of work-related musculoskeletal disorders involving the back, cervical spine, and upper extremities. The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined occupational diseases as those work-related diseases where the relationship to specific causative factors at work has been fully established [WHO, 1985]. Other work-related diseases may have a weaker or unclear association to working conditions. They maybe aggravated, accelerated, or exacerbated by workplace factors and lead to impairment of workers performance. Hence obtaining the occupational history... 

In addition, postural abnormalities are observed resulting from spondylitis deformans of the thoracic or cervical spine, with kyphosis and kyphoscoliosis. Other patients exhibit pes cavus deformities, hallux valgus, or hammer toes. 

To assist in maintaining some measure of stability in the face of the large amounts of motion possible in the mid-cervical spine, a specialized set of synovial joints has developed as an adaptation for upright posture in humans. These joints, known as the imciform joints or the joints oj Luschka, are located on the lateral edges of the cervical vertebral bodies (Fig. 24-6). The lateral lips of two adjacent vertebrae articulate and are contained within a small... 

Posture is significant to any problem of the cervical spine. If the head is carried too far forward or too far back, abnormal stresses are placed on... 

The backbone consists of seven cervical vertebrae, twelve thoracic vertebrae, five lumbar vertebrae and three to five coccygeal vertebrae (taUbone sacrum ). The general function of the backbone is to sustain the head, torso and the arms and to make a stable posture possible. The backbone has natural curvatures in the cervical and lumbar areas of the back. Because of these curvatures the shape of the backbone is called a double-S shape . This special shape makes a straight posture possible and prevents overloads of the torso. The function of the shape is to absorb shocks that occur if you walk, run or during other movements whereby the spinal cord has to be protected. The motion in the spine can be realized because of the interaction of the intervertebral disks, joints, ligaments and muscles. 

These curves are physiologic and biomechanical and were created by the body s functional development. At birth, the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae form one continuous kyphotic (concave forward) curve. As the cervical extensor muscles develop, allowing the head to stay raised, the norm cervical (convex forward) lordosis develops. As the child begins to stand and walk, the back muscles strengthen and normal lumbar lordosis (convex forward) is achieved. This process begins at approximately age 3 years and is fully developed by the age 10 years. The thoracic spine retains its kyphotic posture, but the angle of the curve is usually decreased. 

The patient was taught exercises to stretch the left-sided muscles and strengthen the rightsided muscles. She was given a series of flexibility exercises for the thoracic, cervical, and lumbar spine. She was given instructions on proper care of the back howto lift, posture when seated and standing, and ergonomic use of a computer that she used for schoolwork. 

Localized thoracic flattening is most often caused by areas of posterior muscular lension and/or somatic dysfunction. It can also be habitual in nature as in a militaiy posture, with the shoulders held back and the spine straightened. Flattening can also be compensatory because of flattening In other regions of the spine, cervical or lumbar. 

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