Lu Guangqi, Li Jing, Mao Hanze, Zhuang Minghui, Li Tiantian, Sun Xinyue, Ma Mingming, Liu Yakun, Cui Ying, Zhu Liguo, Yu Jie, Liang Long
Department of Spine, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, No.6 Wangjing Zhonghuan South Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100102, China.
Department of Research Management, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, No.6 Wangjing Zhonghuan South Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100102, China.
BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2025 May 15;26(1):484. doi: 10.1186/s12891-025-08594-z.
The neck muscles play a crucial role in maintaining cervical spine stability. A thorough understanding of the changes in neck muscles during cervical instability (CI), along with an analysis of their correlation with lifestyle habits, can provide valuable data for the prevention and treatment of CI.
A total of 98 patients with CI and 88 healthy subjects were included in the study. Their cervical MRI images and lifestyle habits information were collected. The relative cross-sectional area (RCSA) and fat signal fraction (FSF) of the neck muscles were obtained from the MRI images. Correlation analysis was conducted between the muscle parameters, CI, and lifestyle habits information.
CI subjects spent more time working (P =.026) and using computers daily than the healthy subjects (P =.023). The cervical curvature of the CI subjects was significantly smaller compared to healthy subjects (P =.004). CI subjects had significantly smaller RCSA (P =.003) and greater FSF (P =.011) in the deep muscles at the back of the neck compared to healthy subjects. FSF in the deep muscles at the back of the neck (OR = 2.343, 95%CI = 1.261-4.352) and cervical curvature (OR = 0.904, 95%CI = 0.848-0.965) were risk factors for CI. Keeping head down time per day (r = - 0.286) and using the computer time per day (r = - 0.230) were negatively correlated with the RCSA in the deep muscles at the back of the neck.
Changes in the deep muscles at the back of the neck are key factors in the development of CI. Prolonged maintenance of a single downward head posture is closely related to changes in the deep muscles at the back of the neck.
The study protocol is registered with Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration number: ChiCTR2100053525, registration date: November 24, 2021).
颈部肌肉在维持颈椎稳定性方面起着关键作用。深入了解颈椎不稳（CI）期间颈部肌肉的变化，并分析其与生活习惯的相关性，可为CI的预防和治疗提供有价值的数据。
本研究共纳入98例CI患者和88名健康受试者。收集他们的颈椎MRI图像和生活习惯信息。从MRI图像中获取颈部肌肉的相对横截面积（RCSA）和脂肪信号分数（FSF）。对肌肉参数、CI和生活习惯信息进行相关性分析。
与健康受试者相比，CI受试者每天工作时间更长（P = 0.026）且使用电脑时间更多（P = 0.023）。与健康受试者相比，CI受试者的颈椎曲度明显更小（P = 0.004）。与健康受试者相比，CI受试者颈部后方深层肌肉的RCSA明显更小（P = 0.003），FSF更大（P = 0.011）。颈部后方深层肌肉的FSF（OR = 2.343，95%CI = 1.261 - 4.352）和颈椎曲度（OR = 0.904，95%CI = 0.848 - 0.965）是CI的危险因素。每天低头时间（r = - 0.286）和每天使用电脑时间（r = - 0.230）与颈部后方深层肌肉的RCSA呈负相关。
颈部后方深层肌肉的变化是CI发生发展的关键因素。长时间保持单一低头姿势与颈部后方深层肌肉的变化密切相关。
本研究方案已在中国临床试验注册中心注册（注册号：ChiCTR2100053525，注册日期：2021年11月24日）。
