Posture and Back Shape Measurement Tools: A Narrative Literature Review

Abstract

The clinical assessment of spinal deformities often involves the assessment of posture and back shape together with the associated mobility of the spine, pelvis and rib cage. Currently, there is a wide range of posture and back shape assessment tools available for clinical use. The choice varies from conventional approach to advanced structured light methods. The advanced methods like ultrasound, 3D radiography and inertial sensors are not easily accessible to most clinicians, as they are either expensive, require specialist training or are complex and/or difficult to use. Thus, simple conventional methods like eyeballing, photography and the plumb line are still used within clinical practice today. The primary aim of this article is to give an overview of different tactile and non-tactile measurement systems that have been developed for the measurement of posture and wholebody analysis.

Untitled

“…Postural abnormalities were assessed anteriorly, laterally, and posteriorly using the plumb line method. The plumb line method has good intra-rater reliability for measuring postural variables with an average intra-class correlation (ICC) of 0.80 [27]. One of the authors (DAO) who was trained in postural abnormalities assessment assessed all participants.…”

Real-Time Back Surface Landmark Determination Using a Time-of-Flight Camera

“…A limitation of the non-invasive methods is the need for direct or indirect (on the photo) determination of marker positions by an expert, which increases the testing time and differentiates results due to inter-rater reliability. The confirmed posture assessment accuracy makes them a basis for developing new diagnostic support tools ensuring accuracy and repeatability [ 14 , 15 , 16 ]. The development of modern approaches also creates new possibilities in performing postural assessments while exercising or during activities of daily living.…”

“…Although the computer-aided diagnosis of posture disorders is well developed, there is still a need to develop existing solutions, search for new measurement methods and create new algorithms for processing [ 16 ]. In addition to high accuracy, the low cost of the system, and examination, it is necessary to evaluate posture not only in static conditions but also regarding variability during movement [ 26 ].…”

Spine Cop: Posture Correction Monitor and Assistant

“…There is a wide range of posture and back shape assessment tools available, some of which are for clinical use, such as photography, goniometers, inclinometers, 2D and 3D X-ray imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, and infrared imaging. However, most of the assessments are still expensive, complicated to set up, time-consuming to operate, and need specialized training or involve radiation problems [ 3 ].…”

“…These portable and wearable tools are inexpensive and user-friendly, and they have been demonstrated to be suitable for posture monitorization. However, there is a lack of information about the reliability of these tools for measuring spinal curvatures or other back parameters [ 3 ]. The limitations of these tools are related with the fact that these devices only monitor specific regions of the back and do not provide information about the whole-back surface.…”