A Statistical Study on Mobility of Lumbar Spine

Measurement of mobility of lumbar spine for numbers of population in Nagasaki prefecture has been conducted in this department of hygiene, using Iino's spinometer, to assess the physiological aging of community residents. A statistical analysis was carried out with the data for some of the population on the change in mobility of the lumbar spine due to aging and on the relation between the angle of lumbar spine at natural erect posture and the values of lumbar spine mobility. The subjects were farmers and fishermen consisting of 629 males and 537 females ranging in age from the 20's to the 60's. The angles of lumbar spine at flexion and extension were expressed in plus and minus signs, respectively.The results were summarized as follows:(1) The angle of lumbar spinal column in the erect position (physiological lordosis, AEP), angles at maximal flexion (AF) and at maximal extension (AE), ranges of maximal flexion (RF) and of maximal extension (RE) and total range of both motions of flexion and extension (RIFE) showed that they change with age. Significant differences were found in the range of maximal flexion and the total range of maximal flexion and extension by age and sex, decreasing with age and greater in males than in females.(2) Between each characteristic positive or negative correlationship was found to some extent.(3) After removal of the change due to the age, the following partial correlationships were found.The angle at the erect position correlated positively to the angle at the maximal flexion and negatively to the motion range in the flexion, meaning that the decrease of physiological lordosis results in the increase of the angle at the flexion, however, it results in the decrease of the motion range in the flexion. The angle at the erect position correlated positively to the angle at the extension and the motion range in the extension, meaning that the decrease in the physiological lordosis results in the increase of the angle and the motion range in extension. However, the angle at the erect position correlated negatively to the total flexion-extension range, suggesting that the decrease of the physiological lordosis has a disadvantageous influence upon the mobility of the lumbar spine.