Correlation Between Reduced Cervical Lordosis (Curvature) and Neck Complaints

spinal stenosis

An average person takes approximately 10,000 steps per day. At the very top of your spine rests a 4 kilogram object called your head that bounces up and down with every single step. The cervical spine, also known as the neck, takes most of the compressive forces from this undulating motion. The neck should have a curvature somewhere between 31-40 degrees. However, if this is reduced, the force gets distributed unevenly and leads to early degeneration, neck pain, headaches, and many other neck related symptoms.

The Correlation

The neck is composed of 7 vertebrae that protect the spinal cord. Many of the nerves that exit the neck control the upper back, arms and hands, and the entire head and face. The curvature of the cervical spine allows for weight to be transferred evenly which distributes the force onto the rest of the spine. According to a study published in the JMPT in 2005, a "clinically normal" range for cervical lordosis should be between 31 and 40 degrees. It was also found in the same study that "the odds that a patient with cervical pain had a lordosis of 0 degrees or less was 18 times greater than for a patient with a noncervical complaint."

Cervical pain and headaches are two of the most common and debilitating spinal problems. There is a direct correlation between the structure and function of the cervical spine and the symptoms that ensue.

In the study mentioned above, the entire sample set had an average cervical curve of 14.5 degrees whilst the average symptomatic curve was just 9.6 degrees. There appears to be no trend seen in age. Also, a study entitled "Cervical Lordosis and Headaches" linked the relationship of "altered cervical curve configuration to the presence of chronic headache pain."

The primary goal is prevention. The development of the cervical lordosis happens when an infant begins to crawl. A more normal curvature can be attained later in life, but is much more difficult to achieve.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care addresses the underlying problem and helps to promote and restore proper cervical structure and function. A chiropractic adjustment can help alleviate the stress placed onto the nervous system, but the patient needs to also change postural habits and other contributing factors. The largest factor that reduces the cervical lordosis is poor posture.

In today's computer-reliant society, there is more and more degeneration of the cervical spine. Chronic forward head carriage leads to a reduced cervical lordosis which then translates to a plethora of neck symptoms in most cases.

A key component to caring for a person with cervicogenic symptoms is restoration of cervical lordosis.

Very gentle stretches and exercises may be added during the care process but should also be monitored closely. The focus should be on neck support to better stabilize the head and distribute the weight and force of the head onto the neck properly. Balance may also be another underlying cause contributing to poor neck posture. The brain may have conflicting information signalling where the body is in space and therefore positioning is altered.

Most importantly, people need to be aware of how they use their body on a daily basis. Headaches and neck pain are not normal and should never occur. I cannot stress the importance of good posture enough and the impact it can have.