Intervertebral disc degeneration, age, and sex affect the range of motion of the cervical spine
Abstract Influences of intervertebral disc degeneration, age, sex, and segmental level on the range of motion (ROM) of the cervical spine are widely unknown. This in vitro study aimed to evaluate these effects using large sample sizes. 19 fresh frozen human cervical spines (occiput-T1) were loaded w...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07182-4 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849769083178844160 |
|---|---|
| author | Christian Liebsch Ann-Kathrin Greiner-Perth Morten Vogt Verena Vieres René Jonas Annette Kienle Hans-Joachim Wilke |
| author_facet | Christian Liebsch Ann-Kathrin Greiner-Perth Morten Vogt Verena Vieres René Jonas Annette Kienle Hans-Joachim Wilke |
| author_sort | Christian Liebsch |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Influences of intervertebral disc degeneration, age, sex, and segmental level on the range of motion (ROM) of the cervical spine are widely unknown. This in vitro study aimed to evaluate these effects using large sample sizes. 19 fresh frozen human cervical spines (occiput-T1) were loaded with pure moments of 2.5 Nm. Segmental ROMs were measured by optical motion tracking from C2–C3 to C6–C7. Disc degeneration of these levels was assessed using a validated classification system for the cervical spine. ROMs gradually and significantly decreased with increasing disc degeneration (p < 0.05) and showed high negative correlation with age in flexion/extension (rho = − 0.637) and axial rotation (rho = − 0.628). In flexion/extension, ROMs were significantly higher in specimens from female donors compared to male (p < 0.05). The level did overall not significantly affect ROMs (p > 0.05), except for C2–C3, which showed significantly lower ROMs compared to C3–C4 (p < 0.05). Increasing disc degeneration and age as well as male sex reduce the ROM of the cervical spine. The relatively continuous decrease of ROM with increasing disc degeneration in all motion directions largely differs from previous findings of our group on the lumbar spine (gradual ROM increase in axial rotation) and the thoracic spine (strong ROM decrease already for mild disc degeneration). |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-78cd891a7b1f4e4d8f0c96a044ef195b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-78cd891a7b1f4e4d8f0c96a044ef195b2025-08-20T03:03:36ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-011511910.1038/s41598-025-07182-4Intervertebral disc degeneration, age, and sex affect the range of motion of the cervical spineChristian Liebsch0Ann-Kathrin Greiner-Perth1Morten Vogt2Verena Vieres3René Jonas4Annette Kienle5Hans-Joachim Wilke6Institute of Orthopaedic Research and Biomechanics, Trauma Research Centre Ulm, Ulm University Medical CentreInstitute of Orthopaedic Research and Biomechanics, Trauma Research Centre Ulm, Ulm University Medical CentreInstitute of Orthopaedic Research and Biomechanics, Trauma Research Centre Ulm, Ulm University Medical CentreInstitute of Orthopaedic Research and Biomechanics, Trauma Research Centre Ulm, Ulm University Medical CentreInstitute of Orthopaedic Research and Biomechanics, Trauma Research Centre Ulm, Ulm University Medical CentreSpineServ GmbH & Co. KGInstitute of Orthopaedic Research and Biomechanics, Trauma Research Centre Ulm, Ulm University Medical CentreAbstract Influences of intervertebral disc degeneration, age, sex, and segmental level on the range of motion (ROM) of the cervical spine are widely unknown. This in vitro study aimed to evaluate these effects using large sample sizes. 19 fresh frozen human cervical spines (occiput-T1) were loaded with pure moments of 2.5 Nm. Segmental ROMs were measured by optical motion tracking from C2–C3 to C6–C7. Disc degeneration of these levels was assessed using a validated classification system for the cervical spine. ROMs gradually and significantly decreased with increasing disc degeneration (p < 0.05) and showed high negative correlation with age in flexion/extension (rho = − 0.637) and axial rotation (rho = − 0.628). In flexion/extension, ROMs were significantly higher in specimens from female donors compared to male (p < 0.05). The level did overall not significantly affect ROMs (p > 0.05), except for C2–C3, which showed significantly lower ROMs compared to C3–C4 (p < 0.05). Increasing disc degeneration and age as well as male sex reduce the ROM of the cervical spine. The relatively continuous decrease of ROM with increasing disc degeneration in all motion directions largely differs from previous findings of our group on the lumbar spine (gradual ROM increase in axial rotation) and the thoracic spine (strong ROM decrease already for mild disc degeneration).https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07182-4Cervical spineIntervertebral disc degenerationAgeSexRange of motionIn vitro study |
| spellingShingle | Christian Liebsch Ann-Kathrin Greiner-Perth Morten Vogt Verena Vieres René Jonas Annette Kienle Hans-Joachim Wilke Intervertebral disc degeneration, age, and sex affect the range of motion of the cervical spine Scientific Reports Cervical spine Intervertebral disc degeneration Age Sex Range of motion In vitro study |
| title | Intervertebral disc degeneration, age, and sex affect the range of motion of the cervical spine |
| title_full | Intervertebral disc degeneration, age, and sex affect the range of motion of the cervical spine |
| title_fullStr | Intervertebral disc degeneration, age, and sex affect the range of motion of the cervical spine |
| title_full_unstemmed | Intervertebral disc degeneration, age, and sex affect the range of motion of the cervical spine |
| title_short | Intervertebral disc degeneration, age, and sex affect the range of motion of the cervical spine |
| title_sort | intervertebral disc degeneration age and sex affect the range of motion of the cervical spine |
| topic | Cervical spine Intervertebral disc degeneration Age Sex Range of motion In vitro study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07182-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT christianliebsch intervertebraldiscdegenerationageandsexaffecttherangeofmotionofthecervicalspine AT annkathringreinerperth intervertebraldiscdegenerationageandsexaffecttherangeofmotionofthecervicalspine AT mortenvogt intervertebraldiscdegenerationageandsexaffecttherangeofmotionofthecervicalspine AT verenavieres intervertebraldiscdegenerationageandsexaffecttherangeofmotionofthecervicalspine AT renejonas intervertebraldiscdegenerationageandsexaffecttherangeofmotionofthecervicalspine AT annettekienle intervertebraldiscdegenerationageandsexaffecttherangeofmotionofthecervicalspine AT hansjoachimwilke intervertebraldiscdegenerationageandsexaffecttherangeofmotionofthecervicalspine |