Posture of patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis.

BACKGROUND

The available literature is lacking in reports on the quantitative analysis of posture in patients with lumbar stenosis.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to analyze body posture in patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis.

METHODS

The study involved 100 people: 49 persons with severe lumbar spine stenosis and 51 control subjects without any history of back pain. All participatants were evaluated by a photogrammetric method.

RESULTS

Photogrammetric measurements showed statistically significant differences in the shape of the anterior-posterior curvatures of the spine. In the study group thoracic kyphosis was significantly greater (p = 0.043), and the depth of lumbar lordosis was significantly smaller (p = 0.038). The inclination of the thoracolumbar segment was also significantly lower (p = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

1. Measurements of body posture indicate a deepening of thoracic kyphosis and flattening of lumbar lordosis in lumbar stenosis patients. 2. Flattening of physiological lordosis seems to be caused by enlargment of the space of the spinal canal and dural sac in this position.