Natural Head Position in Standing Subjects

TLDR

The relationship between head balance and facial morphology in adults is not fully understood. The study aimed to analyze associations within the craniocervical complex to clarify this relationship. The authors recorded self‑balance and mirror head positions on cephalometric radiographs of 120 Danish male students, assessed reproducibility, and developed a computerized method to transfer reference points between film series. In the mirror position the head was held higher than in the self‑balance position, and variability in craniofacial and cervical reference line inclinations relative to true vertical and each other was observed.

Abstract

AbstractThe natural head position in standing subjects was studied on cephalometric profile radiographs of 120 Danish male students aged 22-30 years. Two head positions were recorded, one determined by the subjects own feeling of a natural head balance (the self balance position) and the other by the subject looking straight into a mirror (the mirror position). The reproducibility of the two head positions was assessed. The reference points were recorded by the D-Mac Pencilfollower on punched cards, and a computerized technique was developed for transfer of reference points between the two series of films. It was found that in the mirror position the head was kept higher than in the self balance position. The variability in inclination of the craniofacial and cervical reference lines to the true vertical and to each other in the two head positions was reported. Analysis of the pattern of associations within the craniocervical complex was suggested to clarify the relationship between head balance and facial morphology.Key Words: PostureHeadCervical vertebraeCephalometryAdult