Measurements of Lumbar Segmental Range of Motion with 3-dimensional Motion Analysis in Healthy Adults

Objective: To measure the lumbar segmental range of motion (ROM) with 3-dimensional motion analysis system and compare the results wifh radiologic ROM measurements. Method: Ten healthy adult volunteers were included. We attached surface markers at the corresponding skin surface of each lumbar vertebral bcdies and measured lumbar segmental ROM in flexion-extension, right bending, left bending, axial rotation with 3-D motion analysis. We compared some of the results with radiologic segmental ROM measurements. Results: In 3-D motion analysis, segmental ROM of flexion and extension, right bending, left bending, right rotation, lef rotation were, respectively: 10.1(), 45(), 3.5(), 1.7() and 1.9() (L1-L2); 17.9(),6.2(),5.1(), 1.4() and 1.10 (L2-L3); 15.0(),7.2(), 4.9(), 2.1() and 1.10 (L3-L4); 14.9(), 5.8(), 4.6, 1.7() and 1.6() (L4-L5); 10.6(), 4.9(), 3.8(), 2.6() and 0.8() (L5-S1). There was no statistically significant difference in segmental ROM between 3-D motion analysis measurements and radiologic measurements except L5-S1 right bending, L2-L3 and L5-S1 left bending. No statistical significant difference in lumbar flexion and bending ROM was found between two methods. Conclusion: 3-D motion analysis is a useful method when measuring the lumbar segmental range of motion and it has an advantage to analyze segmental lumbar motion with three directions simultaneously.