Effects of Suboccipital Stretch on the Head and Neck Posture and the Electromyographoic Activity of the Sternocleidomastoideus and the Upper Trapezius

후두하 신장운동이 두경부자세와 흉쇄유돌근 및 승모근 활성에 미치는 영향

This study was performed to investigate the effect of suboccipital stretch on the head and neck posture and the electromyographic(EMG) activity of some cervical muscles. For this study, 39 patients with temporomandibular disorders(TMD) and 34 dental students without any signs and symptoms in the masticatory system were selected as the patients group and as the normal group, respectively. Head position by goniometer CROM$^{(R)}$(Performance attainment, St. Paul, USA), EMG activity by BioEMG$^{(R)}$(Bioresearch Inc., Milwaukee, USA), and craniocervical posture by cephaloradiography were observed in both natural head posture(NHP) and head posture with suboccipital stretch(tuck posture) abtained from slight posteroinferior finger pressure on the chin. Variables measured on the cephaloradiograph were SN angle, atlas angle, CVT angle, occiput-atlas and atlas-axis distance, and pharyngeal width. The data obtained were analysed by SPSS windows program and the results of this study were as follows : 1. In the sagittal plane, degree of anterior rotation of the head by suboccipital stretch was 6.3 in the patients group, and 6.2 in the normal group, respectively. So there was no significant difference between the two groups for degree of anterior rotation, but the position of the head in the patients group were more posteriorly extended than in the normal group in both NHP and tuck posture. 2. EMG activity of the stemocleidomastoideus in the patients group, and that of the upper trapezius and the sternocleidomastoideus in the normal group were increased by suboccipital stretch. The range of EMG activity, however, in these cervical muscles were 1.6 -2.3)u.V. 3. Cephalometric variables such as SN angle, atlas angle, CVT angle, occiput-atlas and atlas-axis distance except pharyngeal width were generally increased by suboccipital stretch. There was some difference, however, in results between the two groups. Atlas angle was not changed in the patients group whereas CVT angle was not changed in the normal group. 4. The distance from subocciput to spinous process of axis was significantly increased as much as 3.0mm in the patients group, and 3.7mm in the normal group by suboccipital stretch.