Abstract
Objective. To evaluate the relationship between load-carrying on the head and the development of degenerative change in the cervical spine.
Design and subjects. A case-control study was performed with 35 individuals who had carried loads on their head (carriers) and 35 persons who never had carrier loads on their head (non-carriers). A scoring system was utilized for the assessment of the degenerative change in the cervical spine at the C3/C4, C4/C5, C5/C6 and C6/C7 levels on lateral cervical spine radiography. A total score was calculated by summing the scores for the single segments.
Results and conclusion. In 31 of the 35 (88.6%) carriers degenerative change was found in the cervical spine, but only in 8 of the 35 (22.9%) non-carriers (P<0.01). The total score and the scores for segments C4/5, C5/C6 anc C6/C7 were significantly higher for the carriers than the non-carriers. It is concluded that the axial strain of load-carrying on the head exacerbates degenerative change in the cervical spine.
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Jäger, H., Gordon-Harris, L., Mehring, UM. et al. Degenerative change in the cervical spine and load-carrying on the head. Skeletal Radiol 26, 475–481 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002560050269
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002560050269