National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) Practice Exam

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Prepare for the NCBTMB Exam with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each packed with hints and explanations. Ensure your success with thorough study and targeted practice tests. Start your journey towards national certification today!

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What is a common finding among clients with forward posture of the head and neck?

Weak anterior neck muscles
Taut posterior neck muscles
Expanded shoulders
Hyperextension of the cervical spine

The correct answer is: Taut posterior neck muscles

Clients with a forward posture of the head and neck commonly exhibit taut posterior neck muscles. This tension arises because the muscles at the back of the neck, including the upper trapezius and levator scapulae, must compensate for the forward shift of the head. When the head juts forward, these muscles work harder to keep the head aligned, leading to overactivity and tightness. This tightness can be a response to the prolonged positioning often seen in activities like working at a computer or looking down at a phone, causing a relative weakness in the opposing anterior neck muscles. The other options, while they may relate to head and neck posture, do not directly reflect the most common physical finding associated with forward head posture. For instance, weak anterior neck muscles can occur, but it's more prevalent to find tightness in the posterior muscles. Similarly, while expanded shoulders could be an observed phenomenon, they are not as directly linked to the mechanics of forward head posture. Hyperextension of the cervical spine is less common in forward posture; rather, there is typically a tendency toward flexion or slight extension depending on the degree of the forward lean.