Prognostic value of measuring the angles of lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis with the Saunders inclinometer in patients with low back pain

Abstract

Abstract Introduction The objective of the study is evaluation of usefulness of measuring angles of lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis in adults suffering from the low back pain (LBP). Aim The aim of this paper is to show the usefulness of measuring the angles of anteroposterior curvatures of the spine with the Saunders electronic inclinometer, using a direct method of measurement, in the LBP patients treated in a rehabilitation outpatient clinic. Material and methods The sample group included 87 people suffering from LBP, treated in the outpatient rehabilitation clinic. The angle of lumbar lordosis (LL) and the angle of thoratic kyphosis (TK) were measured with the use of the Saunders inclinometer. The differences between the compared groups were assessed on the basis of the Pearson χ 2 significance test. Results and discussion The LL angular values were mostly included within the 20°–40° in both, men and women, and they were found in 72%–78% of the examined patients. Lower LL was found to occur more often in men, but the difference was not statistically significant. Statistically significant functional shortenings of lower limbs above 1 cm were more often found in men (62.5%). Conclusions (1) An alteration of the spine shape in the sagittal plane can be regarded as one of the potential factors of the LBP risk. (2) Measurements of the LL and TK angular values seem to be a legitimate element of the orthopedic examination of the patients suffering from LBP. (3) Reduction of lumbar lordosis can be an LBP risk factor, particularly in men.