Measurement of Lumbar Lordosis

Abstract

The measurement of lumbar lordosis is reproducible and reliable if the technique is specified and one accepts 10 degrees as acceptable variation. Factors that affect the reproducibility of measurement include end vertebra selection (especially with transitional segments) and vertebral endplate architecture.

Influences of trunk muscles on lumbar lordosis and sacral angle

“…Although there are some disputes about physiological range, this angle should measure at about 30°and determines the degree of the superincumbent lordosis of lumbar spine. In this study, both lordotic angle and sacral angle were slightly smaller compared findings from former studies [3,8,10,11]. Lumbosacral joint is an important determinant to lumbar lordosis and is unstable because it is an inflexion point in spinal curvature [10].…”

“…The measurement of lordosis was well reported by Polly et al [11]. Originally, the method of Cobb used in this study was proposed as a measure of coronal plane deformity not as a measure of sagittal contour.…”

“…The importance of sagittal contour and maintenance of appropriate lumbar lordosis has received increasing attention over the last few years [4,6,11,13,15,17]. Although the effects of hyperlordosis or hypolordosis All values are mean ± SD are not yet well established, loss of lumbar lordosis can have significant adverse consequences [11,15].…”

“…Although the effects of hyperlordosis or hypolordosis All values are mean ± SD are not yet well established, loss of lumbar lordosis can have significant adverse consequences [11,15]. Investigators have claimed that anthropometric characteristics such as increased lumbar lordosis and diminished abdominal muscle force by them can increase the risk of chronic LBP [11].…”

“…To measure lordotic angle, a permutation of the method of Cobb was applied. Lordotic angle was obtained between inferior endplate of L5 and superior endplate of L1 in the lateral view following Polly's method [11] (Fig. 3).…”