Normative Values for Active Lumbar Range of Motion in Children and Confounding Factors that Affects the Active Lumbar Range of Motion

Sanjeevni Sawale,Senthil Kumar E,Richa Bisen

doi:10.4172/2573-0312.1000101

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish normative values for active lumbar movement in children five, seven, nine, and 11 years of age and to find the confounding factors that affect the lumbar range. Method: End range active flexion, extension, and right- and left-side bending of the lumbar spine were measured for 400 normally developing children (200 girls, 200 boys) using dual inclinometric technique. Means were determined for each motion by age and sex. Group relationships were explored. Results: Normative values for lumbar spine cardinal plane movements were identified. Reduced lumbar movement was found in the 11-year-old group compared with the 5-year-old group in both girls and boys. Flexibility levels were defined using percentiles as poor ( 95th) respectively. The mean value for forward flexion, extension right and left lateral flexion for all participants was 55.9 + 17, 21.8 + 6, 15.2 + 5.1 and 14.9 + 5. Conclusion: Normative data for cardinal plane movements of the lumbar spine provide therapists with a baseline for assessing spinal mobility of children of these ages.

Highlights

Adequate range of motion(ROM) is necessary for maintenance of normal spinal movement patterns in the developing child [1]
The physical characteristics of all participants in both males and females show that limb length is more in males than in females
Correlation which determined the relationship between spinal flexibility and age, body mass index (BMI), trunk length, limb length and hamstring flexibility shows significant correlation

Summary

Introduction

Adequate range of motion(ROM) is necessary for maintenance of normal spinal movement patterns in the developing child [1]. During the growth and maturation process, there are forces that contribute to the shape of the individual vertebra, which leads to changes in the posture and mobility of the mature spine [2]. The lumbar facet joints change from a relatively frontal to a sagittal plane, and the shape changes from relatively flat at birth to curved by approximately 11 years of age [14]. This change in lumbar facet orientation is thought to play a role in the quantity and direction of lumbar movement

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