Document Type : Original Articles
Authors
1 MSC student in of Orthotics and Prosthetics, school of rehabilitation sciences, Isfahan university of medical sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2 Associate Prof., Dept. of Orthotics and Prosthetics, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
3 rehabilitation sciences research center, Shiraz university research center, Shiraz university of medical sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
4 Student Research Committee, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Abstract
Background: To facilitate the fusion of the injury site For nonoperative treatment or after surgery, various braces are available to immobilize an unstable cervical spine. The most effective and successful braces for immobilizing unstable cervical spine injuries are Minerva and Halo. The performance of cervical braces was measured by the degree of motion restriction. This study aims to obtain information on the function of modified Iranian and rigid Minerva braces compared with each other by relying on three-dimensional motion analysis as a standard method.
Methods: Twenty-nine healthy male subjects without a history of spinal pain, malformation, and surgery were included in the study. This is a cross-sectional study. A 3D Motion capture system was used to record cervical and thoracic spine flexion, extension, lateral bending, and rotation. Range of motion was tested without a brace, with modified Iranian and rigid Minerva braces.
Results: Immobilization in flexion (89.03%>87.8%) and rotation (84.85%>83.19%) were higher in the modified Iranian Minerva than in rigid Minerva, but extension (89.37%>85.95%) and lateral bending (81.26%>71.71%) were higher in rigid Minerva at cervical region (p value>0.05). In flexion (76.35% <75.96%), lateral bending (46.92% >44.5%) and extension (79.44%>62.58%) immobilization were higher in the rigid Minerva than modified Iranian Minerva, but rotation (53.04%>41.21%) was more restricted in the modified Iranian Minerva than in the rigid Minerva at the thoracic region (p-value>0.05).
Conclusion: Both Minerva braces significantly reduced the neck’s range of motion (p-value<0.05). The Rigid Minerva was more effective in controlling extension and lateral bending, but the modified Iranian Minerva provided greater flexion and rotation limitations (p-value<0.05).
Keywords
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