Cervical muscle

(1) Background: Neck pain intensity, psychosocial factors, and physical function have been identified as potential predictors of neck disability. Machine learning algorithms have shown promise in classifying patients based on their neck disability status. So, the current study was conducted to identify predictors of neck disability in patients with neck pain based on clinical findings using machine learning algorithms. (2) Methods: Ninety participants with chronic neck pain took part in the study. Demographic characteristics in addition to neck pain intensity, the neck disability index, cervical spine contour, and surface electromyographic characteristics of the axioscapular muscles were measured...

Background : The main aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare the occurrence and severity of cervical spine pain in young adults diagnosed with TMDs with a healthy control group (without TMDs). Methods : The study was conducted from June to July 2023. Inclusion criteria were age (18-30 years), cervical spine pain (for at least 1 month), and consent to participate in the study. The study was conducted based on RDC/TMD protocol, an original questionnaire, and a physiotherapeutic examination focused on detecting TMDs...

Background : This study investigates the efficacy of the Cervical Endoscopic Unilateral Laminoforaminotomy for Bilateral Decompression (CE-ULFBD) technique in treating cervical myeloradiculopathy, primarily caused by degenerative spondylosis. Traditionally managed through multisegmental anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) or laminoplasty combined with foraminotomy, this condition has recently experienced a promising shift towards minimally invasive approaches, particularly endoscopic spinal decompression...

BACKGROUND: Total pelvic exenteration is the ultimate solution for rectovesicovaginal fistula caused by radiation therapy, yet total pelvic exenteration frequently causes intraoperative complications and postoperative complications. These complications are responsible for the dysfunction of lower extremities, impaired quality of life, and even the high long-term morbidity rate, thus multidisciplinary cooperation and early intervention for prevention of complications are necessary. Physical therapy was found to reduce the postoperative complications and promote rehabilitation, yet the effect on how physiotherapy prevents and treats complications after total pelvic exenteration and pelvic lymphadenectomy remains unclear...

The craniocervical flexion test (CCFT) is commonly used for assessing the performance and function of the deep cervical flexor muscles; however, objective measurements of cervical segmental motion during craniocervical flexion (CCF) are lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this study aimed to investigate cervical segmental motions during CCFT and determine the relationship between changes of cervical segmental motions and the cervical lordotic angle. A cross-sectional study of prospectively collected data. Twenty healthy participants without neck pain underwent standing cervical radiography (lateral view) to measure the cervical lordotic angle, followed by radiography in supine position during the CCFT...

Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth leading cancer among women and is one of the principal gynecological malignancies. In the tumor microenvironment, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a crucial role during malignant progression, exhibiting a variety of heterogeneous phenotypes. CAFs express phenotypic markers like fibroblast activation protein (FAP), vimentin, S100A4, α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), and functional markers such as MMP9. This study aimed to evaluate the protein expression of vimentin, S100A4, αSMA, FAP, and MMP9 in mesenchymal stem cells (MSC)-CAF cells, as well as in cervical cancer samples...

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between severity and level of cervical central stenosis (CCS) and the fat infiltration (FI) of the cervical multifidus/rotatores (MR) at each subaxial levels. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The relationship between cervical musculature morphology and the severity of CCS is poorly understood. METHODS: Patients with preoperative cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) were reviewed...

Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) causes dramatic sensorimotor deficits that restrict both activity and participation. Restoring activity and participation requires extensive upper limb rehabilitation focusing elbow and wrist movements, which can include motor imagery. Yet, it remains unclear whether MI ability is impaired or spared after SCI. We investigated implicit and explicit MI ability in individuals with C6 or C7 SCI (SCIC6 and SCIC7 groups), as well as in aged- and gender-matched controls without SCI...

The phrenic nerve innervates the respiratory diaphragm, the primary muscle active during ventilation. The canonical path of the phrenic nerve originates from the cervical spine at C3-C5 spinal nerves and travels inferiorly through the neck and thoracic cavity to reach the diaphragm. During a cadaver dissection, a variation of the phrenic nerve was discovered in a 93-year-old male specimen. A traditional origin of the phrenic nerve was noted; however, the nerve branched into medial and lateral components at the level of the superior trunk of the brachial plexus...

Birds have extremely flexible necks, which help in their search for food. However, studies on the variation in bird cervical anatomy and its relationship with foraging are rare, despite the different habits presented between species. Here, we analyze the anatomy of the neck of aquatic birds and relate it to their foraging strategies. We dissected specimens representing four species of Charadriiformes, 11 species of Phaethoquornithes, and two specimens belonging to the outgroup Telluraves. We chose to emphasize Charadriiformes and Phaethoquornithes because they present several strategies that require cervical mobility and stability...

Radicular pain, a common and complex form of neuropathic pain, presents significant challenges in treatment. Acupuncture, a therapy originating from ancient traditional Chinese medicine and widely utilized for various pain types, including radicular pain, has shown promising outcomes in the management of lumbar radicular pain, cervical radicular pain, and radicular pain due to spinal stenosis. Despite its efficacy, the exact mechanisms through which acupuncture achieves analgesia are not fully elucidated and are the subject of ongoing research...

A 53-year-old female visited our hospital because of cervical and abdominal pain preceding fever and upper respiratory symptoms. Severe tenderness was noted over the bilateral sternocleidomastoid muscles, the superior portion of the trapezius muscle, and the umbilical region of the abdomen. The patient reported exacerbation of posterior neck pain in the supine position and during the transition from sitting to the supine position. The diagnosis of epidemic myalgia was finally made. This case highlights the presence of the cervical variant of epidemic myalgia...

OBJECTIVE: To explore the application and key points of microchannel approaches in resection of cervical intraspinal tumors. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 51 cases of cervical spinal canal tumors from February 2017 to March 2020. Among them, 5 cases were located epidural space, 6 cases were located epidural and subdural space, and 40 cases were located under the subdural extramedullary space(6 cases were located on the ventral side of the spinal cord)...

When the foot dorsum contacts an obstacle during locomotion, cutaneous afferents signal central circuits to coordinate muscle activity in the four limbs. Spinal cord injury disrupts these interactions, impairing balance and interlimb coordination. We evoked cutaneous reflexes by electrically stimulating left and right superficial peroneal nerves before and after two thoracic lateral hemisections placed on opposite sides of the cord at 9- to 13-week interval in seven adult cats (4 males and 3 females). We recorded reflex responses in ten hindlimb and five forelimb muscles bilaterally...

INTRODUCTION: Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TSCS), a non-invasive form of spinal cord stimulation, has been shown to improve motor function in individuals living with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the effects of different types of TSCS currents including direct current (DC-TSCS), alternating current (AC-TSCS), and spinal paired stimulation on the excitability of neural pathways have not been systematically investigated. The objective of this systematic review was to determine the effects of TSCS on the excitability of neural pathways in adults with non-progressive SCI at any level...

Extradural meningiomas are rare in the cervical region. A total of 70-77% of reported cases have occurred in the thoracic region. Tumors that occur in the cervical region may invade the adjacent nerve root and brachial plexus. Typically, diagnoses of extradural meningioma are made after patients present with signs of myelopathy, such as progressive paresis and numbness. In the current study, a 64-year-old male patient presented with neck pain, numbness and mild weakness in the left hand over a 6-month period...

The atlas (C1) and occipital bone at the base of the skull fuse together in atlas occipitalization, an uncommon congenital abnormality. Because it can result in cervical spine instability, nerve impingement, and related symptoms including stiffness, pain, and neurological impairments, it poses a challenging therapeutic problem. We describe the case of a female patient, 27 years old, who had gradually deteriorating neck discomfort, stiffness, and limited cervical mobility for six years prior to presentation...

OBJECTIVES: The adult-onset focal dystonias are characterized by over-active muscles leading to abnormal movements. For most cases, the etiology and pathogenesis remain unknown. In the current study, unbiased proteomics methods were used to identify potential changes in blood plasma proteins. METHODS: A large-scale unbiased proteomics screen was used to compare proteins (N = 6,345) in blood plasma of normal healthy controls (N = 49) with adult-onset focal dystonia (N = 143) consisting of specific subpopulations of cervical dystonia (N = 45), laryngeal dystonia (N = 49), and blepharospasm (N = 49)...

BACKGROUND: Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a muscle pain disorder characterized by the presence of Myofascial Trigger Point (MTrP) within a taut band, local tenderness, referral of pain to a distant site, restricted range of motion, and autonomic phenomena. The upper trapezius is the muscle most often affected by MTrPs. Manual myofascial release (MFR) and Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) are techniques of soft tissue release that are used to resolve MPS. Fifty six percent of physiotherapists complain of pain in multiple areas due to the massage and manual therapy that they have to perform...

BACKGROUND: Malignant triton tumors (MTTs) comprise a subgroup of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) that exhibits rhabdomyosarcomatous differentiation and follow an aggressive course. MTTs are primarily located along peripheral nerves. Cases of MTTs in the abdominal wall have not been reported. MTT has a poorer prognosis than classic MPNSTs, and accurate diagnosis necessitates a keen understanding of the clinical history and knowledge of its differential diagnosis intricacies...