Validation of a Non-Invasive Method of Measuring the Surface Curvature of the Erect Spine

Abstract

Although non-invasive instruments used to measure the surface curvature of the spine have been widely described in the literature, there is inconclusive evidence to substantiate a relationship between their measurement of the erect thoracolumbar spine and measurements taken from radiographs. In addition, such instruments evaluate surface curvature of the spine by measuring the angle between between tangents taken at two surface points along the back, and thus may not precisely quantify the visible shape of a spinal curve. This paper describes a non-invasive method of evaluating the surface curvature of the spine in the sagittal plane which quantifies the shape of a curve more precisely, according to the mathematical definition of curvature. The method is shown to accurately measure the magnitude of a curve and to provide a surface measurement of spinal curvature that bears a reasonable relationship to the curvature of the underlying vertebral column.

Keywords:

• Kyphosis
• Lordosis
• Lumbar vertebrae
• Thoracic vertebrae
• Posture
• Spine
• Spinal Curvatures