EVALUATION OF CLINICAL LUMBAR INSTABILITY USING THE TREADMILL

The physical signs of lumbar instability have not yet been clearly def ined. Furthermore, they do not always coincide with the abnormal movem ent on flexion-extension radiographs. Thus, the treadmill was used to evaluate clinical lumbar instability. The subjects were 82 patients wi th degenerative lumbar disease aggravated by walking or daily physical activities. The reproduction and provocation of low-back pain or pain in the lower extremities was examined during walking on a treadmill. The responses of the reproduction and provocation of the symptoms were divided into four grades. Fifteen cases were examined again using a t readmill after body casting to determine the indication for fusion sur gery. As a result, the responses in the reproduction or provocation te st using a treadmill manifest more dominant reflection of clinical sym ptoms suggesting clinical lumbar instability than the existence of the abnormal movement on flexion-extension radiographs. Reexamination aft er body casting was useful to determine the indications of fusion oper ations. The reproduction or provocation test using a treadmill was imp lied as a possible functional evaluation method of clinical lumbar ins tability.