Bone mineral density, cervical spine degeneration, head and neck posture, and neck pain in the post-menopausal females: A pilot study

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 16; no. 9; p. e0257735
• Main Authors: Hong, Seok Woo, Park, Ki Tae, Chung, Yoon-Sok, Choi, Yong Jun, Kang, Jeong-Hyun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 20-09-2021; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Absorptiometry, Photon; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Biology and Life Sciences; Biomedical materials; Bone Density; Bone mineral density; Bone surgery; Bones; Cervical Vertebrae - diagnostic imaging; Cervical Vertebrae - pathology; Cervical Vertebrae - physiopathology; Degeneration; Degenerative disc disease; Demographic aspects; Density; Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry; Endocrinology; Female; Females; Femur; Femur Neck - diagnostic imaging; Femur Neck - pathology; Fractures; Head; Head - diagnostic imaging; Head and neck; Health aspects; Hip; Hospitals; Humans; Intervertebral discs; Lumbar Vertebrae - diagnostic imaging; Lumbar Vertebrae - pathology; Lumbar Vertebrae - physiopathology; Medicine; Medicine and Health Sciences; Menopause; Metabolism; Middle Aged; Neck - diagnostic imaging; Neck - pathology; Neck - physiopathology; Neck pain; Neck Pain - diagnostic imaging; Neck Pain - physiopathology; Orthopaedic implants; Orthopedics; Osteoporosis; Pain; Patients; Physiological aspects; Pilot Projects; Post-menopause; Postmenopausal women; Postmenopause - physiology; Posture; Posture - physiology; Questionnaires; Risk factors; Sclerosis; Spine; Spine (cervical); Spine (lumbar); South Korea; United States > US
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257735

The purpose of the present study was to reveal the relationship between degenerative changes in the cervical spine, head and neck postures, neck pain, and bone mineral density (BMD) of the total hip, femoral neck, and lumbar spine in post-menopausal females. In total, 116 females (mean age 60.4 ± 7.1 years; age range 50-80 years) were included. Participants were classified into three groups based on the T-score criteria of the total hip, femoral neck, and lumbar spine set by World Health Organization, respectively. The degree of neck pain was assessed using self-administered questionnaire, the Neck Disability Index. Cervical spine degeneration and head and neck postures were identified using the lateral cephalograms. Grading system for cervical degeneration included three categories of the radiographic alterations including disc height loss, osteophyte formation, and diffuse sclerosis. The areal BMD of the total hip, femoral neck, and lumbar spine were determined using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Females with lower BMD exhibited lesser degree of neck pain and forward head posture (FHP) compared to those with normal BMD. Higher BMD seemed to be associated with more notable loss of the disc height at the level of C4-5. More prominent degenerative changes in the cervical spine were associated with higher areal BMD of the hip, femoral neck, and lumbar spine, altered head posture, and development of neck pain.