ANGULAR MOVEMENTS OF THE LUMBAR SPINE AND PELVIS CAN BE RELIABLY MEASURED AFTER 4 MINUTES OF TREADMILL WALKING

Objective. To determine the familiarization period required to obtain consistent measurements of the angular movements of the lumbar spine a nd pelvis during treadmill walking. Design. An in vivo study with repe ated measures every 2 min over 10 min. Background. Walking on a treadm ill can initially be an unfamiliar experience. No data were available to indicate the length of time required for treadmill familiarization prior to taking measurements of the angular movements of the lumbar sp ine and pelvis. The familiarization period has implications for the us e of this technique in clinical testing. Methods. The angular movement s of the lumbar spine and pelvis were examined by the PEAK 3D motion m easurement system in 16 untrained, normal subjects walking for in min on a treadmill at either self-selected or 60% of self-selected speed. Results. The reliability of the angular measurements of the spine and pelvis were all greater than 0.83 (ICC) after 4 min of treadmill walki ng and did not appear to increase after 4 min. No changes in the ampli tudes of the angular movements of the lumbar spine and pelvis could be detected after 4 min of treadmill walking, or of the absolute differe nce scores beyond 2 min of treadmill walking, in either normal or slow -speed walking groups. Conclusions. Angular movements of the lumbar sp ine and pelvis were consistent after 4 min of treadmill walking by nor mal subjects, both at self-selected and slow walking speeds, indicatin g that reliable measurements of these parameters could be taken at tha t time. Relevance Angular movements of the lumbar spine and pelvis can be reliably measured during treadmill walking, providing there has be en at least 4 min of familiarization. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Scie nce Ltd.