Sagittal and horizontal plane movement of the human lumbar vertebral column in cadavers and in the living.

The ranges of sagittal and horizontal plane movements of the human lumbar vertebral column have been measured in 204 cadavers and 437 living subjects of both sexes. The cadaveric measurements were made on fresh specimens within 24-48 hours of death and compared with similar measurements from the living subjects. The data from the two sources correlate well and provide an estimate of the decline in the normal ranges of movements with increasing age, in both sexes.