Affiliations: [a] Faculty of Physical Education and Sport in Biała Podlaska, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education, Warsaw, Poland | [b] Professor A. Gruca Independent Public Research Hospital, Otwock Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Center of Postgraduate Medical Education, Otwock, Poland | [c] Faculty of Rehabilitation, Józef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland | [d] Institute of Physiotherapy, University of Rzeszów, Poland | [e] Social Academy of Science, Physiotherapy Faculty, Warsaw, Poland | [f] Military Institute of Aviation Medicine, Psychology Department, Warsaw, Poland
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Aleksandra Truszczyńska, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Marymoncka St. 34, 00-968 Warsaw, Poland. E-mail: aleksandra.rapala@wp.pl
Abstract: 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.
