Measuring Craniovertebral Angle Reference Values in Adults Using Kinovea Software
Source abstract
Abstract
The clinical examination of patients with cervical spine pathology includes measures of posture, mobility, strength, and stability. The forward head position as measured by craniovertebral angle (CVA) has been suggested as a risk factor for cervical spine pathology. The purpose of this study was to describe CVA reference values in healthy adults and assess the relationship with age and sex. This prospective cross-sectional observational study measured the CVA in 122 healthy adults using digital analysis of a lateral view photograph. To facilitate this analysis, a marker was placed at the level of the C7 vertebra, with the tragus of the ear visible in the photograph. The CVA was measured using Kinovea 0.8.15 software, where the CVA was calculated using the intersection of a horizontal line with a line joining the spinous process of C7 and the tragus of the ear. Mean CVA values were 48.76° (6.77) across all participants, 50.07° (6.63) for females, and 47.46° (6.71) for males. Linear regression analysis indicated significant relationships with age and with sex. The study established CVA reference values in healthy adults and identified a significant difference in head position between males and females and a 1.6° decrease in CVA per decade of increased age.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation · Spine and Intervertebral Disc Pathology · Medical Imaging and Analysis
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Physiotherapy Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Campus Sant Cugat C/Josep Trueta, 08195 Barcelona, Spain
School of Health Sciences, Oakland University, 3077 Human Health Building 433 Meadow Brook Rd, Rochester, MI 48309, USA
Unidad de Investigación en Fisioterapia, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de Zaragoza, C/de Domingo Miral, s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Funding
Universitat Internacional de Catalunya resources
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