Belt effects on lumbar sagittal angles.
OBJECTIVE
The study examined the belt effects on the change of lumbar sagittal angles.


METHODS
The effects of pelvic and lumbar belts on lumbar sagittal angles were examined both radiographically and videographically in standing, erect sitting, and slump sitting.


BACKGROUND
The resulting changes of lumbar angles when wearing belts with different mechanical characteristics should be different.


METHODS
Eighteen healthy male subjects participated in this study. L1/L3, L3/L5, L5/S1 and L1/S1 were measured with the aid of lateral radiographs. The external joint angles were also measured via the motion analysis system.


RESULTS
Radiographic data revealed an interactive effect between working posture and the use of a belt (P<0.046) on the change of L1/S1. In standing, both belts increased L1/S1 by increasing almost all the lumbar vertebral angles. In erect sitting, wearing lumbar belt had no effect but the pelvic belt decreased L1/S1 mainly through a decrease in L1/L3. In sitting slump with trunk flexion of 15 degrees, both belts increased L1/S1 and restricting the movement of the pelvis.


CONCLUSIONS
Belt effect to the change of lumbar sagittal angles in posture which involve knee flexing and/or trunk flexing seems not as the same as in standing posture.


CONCLUSIONS
This study related internal vertebral angles and externally measured trunk angles with lumbar and pelvic belt usage.
Lee
Y H
YH
Department of Industrial Management, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, 43 Keelung Road, Section 4, Taipei, Taiwan. yhlee@im.ntust.edu.tw
Chen
C Y
CY
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D008141:Lordosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D011482:Protective Devices; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D013131:Spine / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*