Evaluation of a flexible ruler technique for measuring lumbar lordosis in the clinical assessment of low back pain.

This preliminary study was designed to evaluate a possible objective technique for the clinical measurement of spinal mobility using a flexible ruler. Thirty-one manual workers employed by British Steel Corporation suffering from low back pain were examined using this technique. The results were compared with those obtained from a matching group of workers who did not suffer from low back pain. The technique proved to be simple, accurate and highly reproducible as a clinical tool in the measurement of spinal mobility. A comparison of the observed spinal profile measurements demonstrated a significant difference in lumbar lordosis between the two groups. This suggested that the previously under-rated clinical sign of loss of lumbar lordosis might provide a useful measurement in evaluation of low back pain. Other findings were that low back pain was associated with decreases in extension measurements. There was also a correlation between height and the low back pain group.