The purpose of the present study was to reveal the relationship between degenerative changes in the cervical spine, head and neck postures, neck pain, and bone mineral density (BMD) of the total hip, femoral neck, and lumbar spine in post-menopausal females. In total, 116 females (mean age 60.4 ± 7.1 years; age range 50-80 years) were included. Participants were classified into three groups based on the T-score criteria of the total hip, femoral neck, and lumbar spine set by World Health Organization, respectively. The degree of neck pain was assessed using self-administered questionnaire, the Neck Disability Index. Cervical spine degeneration and head and neck postures were identified using the lateral cephalograms. Grading system for cervical degeneration included three categories of the radiographic alterations including disc height loss, osteophyte formation, and diffuse sclerosis. The areal BMD of the total hip, femoral neck, and lumbar spine were determined using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Females with lower BMD exhibited lesser degree of neck pain and forward head posture (FHP) compared to those with normal BMD. Higher BMD seemed to be associated with more notable loss of the disc height at the level of C4-5. More prominent degenerative changes in the cervical spine were associated with higher areal BMD of the hip, femoral neck, and lumbar spine, altered head posture, and development of neck pain.

中文翻译：

---

绝经后女性的骨矿物质密度、颈椎退变、头颈部姿势和颈部疼痛：一项初步研究。

本研究的目的是揭示绝经后女性的颈椎退行性变化、头颈部姿势、颈部疼痛和全髋、股骨颈和腰椎的骨矿物质密度 (BMD) 之间的关系。 . 总共包括 116 名女性（平均年龄 60.4 ± 7.1 岁；年龄范围 50-80 岁）。根据世界卫生组织制定的全髋、股骨颈和腰椎的 T 评分标准，将参与者分为三组。颈部疼痛的程度使用自我管理的问卷，颈部残疾指数进行评估。颈椎退行性变和头颈部姿势使用侧位头颅图确定。颈椎退变分级系统包括三类放射学改变，包括椎间盘高度损失、骨赘形成和弥漫性硬化。使用双能 X 射线吸收仪测定全髋、股骨颈和腰椎的面积 BMD。与骨密度正常的女性相比，骨密度较低的女性颈部疼痛和头部前倾姿势 (FHP) 的程度较轻。较高的 BMD 似乎与 C4-5 水平的椎间盘高度损失更显着相关。颈椎更显着的退行性变化与髋部、股骨颈和腰椎的较高面积 BMD、改变的头部姿势和颈部疼痛的发展有关。与骨密度正常的女性相比，骨密度较低的女性颈部疼痛和头部前倾姿势 (FHP) 的程度较轻。较高的 BMD 似乎与 C4-5 水平的椎间盘高度损失更显着相关。颈椎更显着的退行性变化与髋部、股骨颈和腰椎的较高面积 BMD、改变的头部姿势和颈部疼痛的发展有关。与骨密度正常的女性相比，骨密度较低的女性颈部疼痛和头部前倾姿势 (FHP) 的程度较轻。较高的 BMD 似乎与 C4-5 水平的椎间盘高度损失更显着相关。颈椎更显着的退行性变化与髋部、股骨颈和腰椎的较高面积 BMD、改变的头部姿势和颈部疼痛的发展有关。