LUMBAR LORDOSIS AND PELVIC INCLINATION OF ASYMPTOMATIC ADULTS

Background and Purpose. We examined, the association between pelvic in clination and lumbar lordosis during relaxed standing and eight variab les thought to contribute to lordosis. Subjects. Ninety subjects (45 m en, 45 women) without back pain or a history of surgery were a examine d. The mean age was 54.8 years (SD=8.5) for male subjects and 58.9 yea rs (SD=8.8) for female subjects. Methods. Multiple linear regression m odeling was used to assess the association of pelvic inclination and s ize of lumbar lordosis in a standing position with age, gender, body m ass index, physical activity level, back and one-joint hip flexor musc le length, and performance and length of abdominal muscles. Results. A bdominal muscle performance was associated with angle of pelvic inclin ation for women (R(2)=.23), but not fur men. Standing lumbar lordosis was associated with abdominal muscle length in women (R(2)=.40), but i t was multivariately associated with length of abdominal and one-joint hip flexor muscles and physical activity level in men (R(2)=.38). No correlation was found between angle of pelvic inclination and depth of lumbar lordosis in a standing position. Conclusion and Discussion. Ne ither univariate nor multivariate regression models account for variab ility in the angle of pelvic inclination or size of lumbar lordosis in adults during upright stance; no correlation was found in standing be tween these two variables. The use of abdominal muscle strengthening e xercises or stretching exercises of the back and one-joint hip flexor muscles to correct faulty standing posture should be questioned.