Lumbar Mobility in Asymptomatic Individuals

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Abstract
Summary A radiological study of angulatory and translational lumbar mobility and of lumbar scoliosis was performed on 56 persons aged 35–54 years who had no history of back pain. The measurements of mobility were based on extension-flexion views; the assessment of scoliosis was done using radiographs taken in the standing position. The results indicated that the largest range of angulatory motion occurred in the L5–S1 segment (mean, 17.3° for women and 16.4° for men). Five-millimeter translational motion was so common in the L3–L4 and L4–L5 segments, as was 4-mm in the L5-S1 segments, that these values cannot be considered with certainty as pathological. Ten subjects (18%) showed scoliosis of ≥10°. Although based on a small series, these results are a step toward a more objective and careful interpretation of extension-flexion and functional radiographs of low-back pain patients.

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