Cervical intradiscal pressure responses to end-range supine postures: A cadaveric investigation

Crawford, M. T., Brismée, J.-M., St-Pierre, M.-O., Bellot, N., Sizer, P. S. et Sobczak, S. (2025). Cervical intradiscal pressure responses to end-range supine postures: A cadaveric investigation. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 26 (1). Article 1038. ISSN 1471-2474 DOI 10.1186/s12891-025-09284-6

Prévisualisation

PDF Disponible sous licence Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Télécharger (1MB) | Prévisualisation

Résumé

Abstract
Background
Cadaveric studies suggest neck postures may affect cervical intradiscal pressure (CIDP) and potentially contribute to intervertebral disc (IVD) pathologies. Despite neck flexion and protraction posture prevalence and potential impact on cervical IVD health, no studies have investigated CIDP during end-range protraction and retraction. This study investigated (1) CIDP differences between cervical traction, six sagittal plane cervical end-ranges, and neutral posture; (2) CIDP and segmental cervical range of motion (ROM) correlation; and (3) CIDP measurement reliability.

Methods
Seven cadaveric specimens, mean age 80.6±7.2 years, had cervical segmental ROM assessed by lateral radiographs and CIDP responses measured by fiberoptic pressure sensors in C4-5, C5-6, and C6-7 IVDs for supine end-range chin to neck, chin to sternum, protraction-flexion, occiput to neck, occiput to thorax, retraction-extension, and neutral traction.

Results
Friedman tests revealed greater CIDP in (1) chin to sternum as compared to traction at C4-5, C5-6 and C6-7 (p < .02); (2) chin to sternum as compared to retraction-extension at C5-6 and C6-7 (p = .027); and (3) chin to sternum as compared to protraction-flexion at C5-6 (p = .042). End-range postures demonstrated moderate effect sizes on CIDP at C4-5 (ES = 0.31), C5-6 (ES = 0.46), and C6-7 (ES = 0.36) using Kendall’s W. Strong correlations between cervical segmental ROM and CIDP were identified at C4-5 chin to neck, rS=0.79, p = .04; C5-6 occiput to thorax, rS=0.79, p = .04; and C6-7 protraction-flexion, rS=0.82, p = .02. Reliability was good to excellent for CIDP and segmental ROM measurements (ICC > 0.92, 95%CI 0.86-0.98).

Conclusions
Consistent chin to sternum increases and traction decreases in CIDP occurred at all cervical IVD levels. The CIDP tended to increase during flexion end-ranges at all IVD levels, while extension, protraction, and retraction tended to decrease at C5-6, C6-7 and increase at C4-5. Large positive or negative CIDP variations with even larger standard deviations were observed within and between cervical IVD segments during various postures.

Type de document:	Article
Mots-clés libres:	Intervertebral disc Cervical vertebrae Pressure Range of motion
Date de dépôt:	07 janv. 2026 19:37
Dernière modification:	07 janv. 2026 19:37
Version du document déposé:	Version officielle de l'éditeur
URI:	https://depot-e.uqtr.ca/id/eprint/12528

Actions (administrateurs uniquement)

Éditer la notice