Skip to main content

Table 3 Comparisons between upper lumbar and lower lumbar spine range of motion across postures and tasks.

From: Regional differences in lumbar spinal posture and the influence of low back pain

Posture/Activity

LLx angle (°)

ULx angle (°)

p-value

p-value adjusted for BMI

ULx/LLx correlation (p-value)

Usual to slump sitting

2.5 ± 4.0

7.3 ± 7.0

< 0.001

0.072

0.525 (< 0.001)

Usual to sway standing

8.2 ± 5.4

0.8 ± 5.4

< 0.001

< 0.001

- 0.469 (< 0.001)

Usual stand to maximal flexion

35.0 ± 10.0

30.8 ± 9.9

0.003

0.033

- 0.442 (< 0.001)

Usual stand to maximal extension

20.6 ± 13.3

8.9 ± 11.1

< 0.001

0.001

- 0.426 (< 0.001)

Total standing ROM

55.7 ± 18.6

39.8 ± 17.0

< 0.001

0.042

- 0.460 (< 0.001)

Usual stand to pick up pen

31.4 ± 9.9

28.0 ± 9.1

0.004

0.140

- 0.332 (< 0.001)

Usual stand to pick up box

28.7 ± 10.2

24.0 ± 10.1

< 0.001

0.069

- 0.142 (0.071)

Usual stand to transfer pillow

19.9 ± 8.2

20.3 ± 9.3

0.775

0.290

- 0.186 (0.018)

Usual stand to transfer box

15.0 ± 7.3

13.9 ± 8.2

0.170

0.160

- 0.041 (0.601)

Usual stand to squat

26.5 ± 10.2

18.4 ± 11.8

< 0.001

0.009

- 0.008 (0.918)

  1. Repeated measure ANCOVA and correlations adjusted for BMI.
  2. LLx = Lower Lumbar, ULx = Upper Lumbar, BMI = Body Mass Index, ROM = Range of Motion.