Lewis SE, Fowler NE Changes in intervertebral disk dimensions after a loading task and the relationship with stature change measurements. [Journal Article] Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2009 Oct; 90(10):1795-9.
Lewis SE, Fowler NE. Changes in intervertebral disk dimensions after a loading task and the relationship with stature change measurements. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that there would be a linear relationship between overall stature change determined by stadiometry and markers of lumbar disk height loss determined from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). DESIGN: The short-term loading response of the lumbar spine was evaluated with both stadiometry and MRI, using a within-subject repeated-measures design. Measures were obtained both before and after 15 minutes of walking wearing a weighted vest (20% of body mass). Stature loss measured on the stadiometer was compared with change in lumbar spine length assessed from the MRI images. SETTING: A university laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (N=13; mean age +/- SD, 28.5+/-5.2y; mean height +/- SD, 1.76+/-0.10m; mean body mass +/- SD, 76.6+/-14.9kg) were invited to take part in the investigation. The group was mixed (9 men, 4 women) and comprised people with no history of low back pain. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Lumbar spine length assessed via MRI and stature change measured via stadiometry. RESULTS: A significant height loss was observed over the complete lumbar spine (P<.05), and a significant correlation was found between the decrease in posterior spine length and stature loss (r=.61). CONCLUSIONS: The results were supportive of the use of stadiometry as an indirect measure of changes in intervertebral disk height.
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