The lumbar spine has an intrinsic shape specific to each individual that remains a characteristic throughout flexion and extension.

Pavlova, Anastasia V.; Meakin, Judith R.; Cooper, Kay; Barr, Rebecca J.; Aspden, Richard M.

Abstract

We have previously shown that the lumbar spine has an intrinsic shape specific to the individual and characteristic of sitting, standing and supine postures. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that this intrinsic shape is detectable throughout a range of postures from extension to full flexion in healthy adults. Sagittal images of the lumbar spine were taken using a positional MRI with participants (n = 30) adopting six postures: seated extension, neutral standing, standing with 30, 45 and 60° and full flexion. Active shape modelling (ASM) was used to identify and quantify ‘modes' of variation in the shape of the lumbar spine. ASM showed that 89.5 % of the variation in the shape of the spine could be explained by the first two modes; describing the overall curvature and the distribution of curvature of the spine. Mode scores were significantly correlated between all six postures (modes 1–9, r = 0.4–0.97, P < 0.05), showing that an element of intrinsic shape was maintained when changing postures. The spine was most even in seated extension (P < 0.001) and most uneven between 35 and 45° flexion (P < 0.05). This study shows that an individual's intrinsic lumbar spine shape is quantifiable and detectable throughout lumbar flexion and extension. These findings will enable the role of lumbar curvature in injury and low back pain to be assessed in the clinic and in the working and recreational environments.

Citation

PAVLOVA, A.V., MEAKIN, J.R., COOPER, K., BARR, R.J. and ASPDEN, R.M. 2014. The lumbar spine has an intrinsic shape specific to each individual that remains a characteristic throughout flexion and extension. European spine journal [online], 23(Suppl 1), pages S26-S32. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-013-3162-1

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 31, 2013
• Online Publication Date: Jan 11, 2014
• Publication Date: Apr 30, 2014
• Deposit Date: Mar 4, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 4, 2021
• Journal: European spine journal
• Print ISSN: 0940-6719
• Electronic ISSN: 1432-0932
• Publisher: Springer
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 23
• Issue: Suppl 1
• Pages: S26-S32
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-013-3162-1
• Keywords: Lumbar spine shape; Intrinsic shape; Posture; Shape modelling; MRI
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1239689