Range of motion and lordosis of the lumbar spine - Reliability of measurement and normative values

Study Design. Repeated measures for intratester reliability were performed. Objectives, To investigate the intratester reliability of a new measurement technique that evaluates lumbar range of motion in three planes using a pe lvic restraint device, and to examine the reliability of lumbar lordosis me asurement by inclinometer technique. Preliminary normative data on lumbar r ange of motion and lumbar lordosis were collected for comparison with the f indings of previous studies. Summary of Background Data. Various noninvasive measurement methods have be en developed for recording lumbar range of motion. However, pelvic movement was not effectively restricted during the use of these measurement techniq ues. The use of the pelvic restraint device to measure lumbar range of moti on has not been investigated previously. Very few studies have investigated the reliability of quantifying lumbar lordosis by the inclinometer techniq ue. Methods, Normative values were measured in 35 healthy men, and 12 of these subjects were included for the reliability study. Pelvic motion was limited by the pelvic restraint device during lumbar range of motion measurement i n standing. An inclinometer was used for evaluation of lumbar flexion, exte nsion, lateral flexion, and lumbar lordosis, whereas a lumbar rotameter was used to measure axial rotation. Results. Good intratester reliability was shown in the lumbar range of moti on and lordosis measurement. Most of the intraclass correlation coefficient and Pearson's r values (accompanied with nonsignificant paired r tests) we re greater than 0.9, and most of the intrasubject coefficients of variation were less than 10%. The values of lumbar range of motion in three planes a nd lumbar lordosis found in the current study were comparable with those fr om most of the previous studies on these measurements in the normal populat ion. Conclusions, Inclinometer and lumbar rotameter measurements with the use of a pelvic restraint device are reliable for measuring lumbar spine range of motion. Use of the inclinometer technique to record lumbar lordosis also i s a reliable measure.