ArticleClinical anatomy (New York, N.Y.)2022
Changes in deep neck muscle length from the neutral to forward head posture. A cadaveric study using Thiel cadavers.
Article in Clinical anatomy (New York, N.Y.), 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 24 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effects of Capital Flexion Exercise on Craniovertebral Angle, Trunk Control, Balance, and Gait in Stroke Patients with Forward Head Posture: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2025Trial
- Influence of thoracic asymmetry on trunk movement patterns during sit-to-stand motion.Journal of physical therapy science · 2026Article
- From Simplified Markers to Muscle Function: A Deep Learning Approach for Personalized Cervical Biomechanics Assessment Powered by Massive Musculoskeletal Simulation.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- The impact of forward head posture on neck muscle endurance and thickness in women with chronic neck pain: a cross-sectional study.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2025Article
- The Association Between Craniovertebral Angle and Neck Muscle Size Using Ultrasonography: A Systematic Review.Health science reports · 2025Review
- Alterations in Cervical Nerve Root Function during Different Sitting Positions in Adults with and without Forward Head Posture: A Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2023Article
- Changes in deep neck muscle length from the neutral to forward head posture. A cadaveric study using Thiel cadavers.Clinical anatomy (New York, N.Y.) · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Forward head posture (FHP) is one of the most common postural deviations. Deep neck muscle imbalance of individuals with FHP is of primary concern in clinical rehabilitation. However, there is scarce quantitative research on changes in deep neck muscle length with the head moving forward. This study aimed to investigate changes in deep neck muscle length with different severity levels of FHP. Six Thiel-embalmed cadavers (four males and two females) were dissected, and 16 deep neck muscles in each cadaver were modeled by a MicroScribe 3D Digitizer in the neutral head posture, slight FHP, and severe FHP. The craniovertebral angle was used to evaluate the degrees of FHP. Quantitative length change of the deep neck muscles was analyzed using Rhinoceros 3D. In slight FHP significant changes in length occurred in four muscles: two shortened (upper semispinalis capitis, rectus capitis posterior minor) and two lengthened (longus capitis, splenius cervicis). In severe FHP all occipital extensors were significantly shortened (10.6 ± 6.4%), except for obliquus capitis superior, and all cervical extensors were significantly lengthened (4.8 ± 3.4%), while longus capitis (occipital flexor) and the superior oblique part of the longus colli (cervical flexor) were lengthened by 8.8 ± 3.8% and 4.2 ± 3.1%, respectively. No significant length change was observed for the axial rotator. This study presents an alternate anatomical insight into the clinical rehabilitation of FHP. Six muscles appear to be important in restoring optimal head posture, with improvements in FHP being related to interventions associated with the occipital and cervical extensors.
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