Lumbar lordosis and pelvic inclination of asymptomatic adults

Physical Therapy Program, Mayo School of Health-Related Sciences, Rochester, MN 055905, USA. youdas.james@mayo.edu

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We examined the association between pelvic inclination and lumbar lordosis during relaxed standing and eight variables thought to contribute to lordosis. SUBJECTS: Ninety subjects (45 men, 45 women) without back pain or a history of surgery were examined. The mean age was 54.8 years (SD = 8.5) for male subjects and 58.9 years (SD = 8.8) for female subjects. METHODS: Multiple linear regression modeling was used to assess the association of pelvic inclination and size of lumbar lordosis in a standing position with age, gender, body mass index, physical activity level, back and one-joint hip flexor muscle length, and performance and length of abdominal muscles. RESULTS: Abdominal muscle performance was associated with angle of pelvic inclination for women (R2 = .23), but not for men. Standing lumbar lordosis was associated with abdominal muscle length in women (R2 = .40), but it was multivariately associated with length of abdominal and one-joint hip flexor muscles and physical activity level in men (R2 = .38). No correlation was found between angle of pelvic inclination and depth of lumbar lordosis in a standing position. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: Neither univariate nor multivariate regression models account for variability in the angle of pelvic inclination or size of lumbar lordosis in adults during upright stance; no correlation was found in standing between these two variables. The use of abdominal muscle strengthening exercises or stretching exercises of the back and one-joint hip flexor muscles to correct faulty standing posture should be questioned.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. J Mueller and K. S Maluf Tissue Adaptation to Physical Stress: A Proposed "Physical Stress Theory" to Guide Physical Therapist Practice, Education, and Research Physical Therapy, April 1, 2002; 82(4): 383 - 403. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. W Youdas, T. R Garrett, K. S Egan, and T. M Therneau Lumbar Lordosis and Pelvic Inclination in Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain Physical Therapy, March 1, 2000; 80(3): 261 - 275. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]