title: The relationship between lumbar lordosis and radiologic variables and lumbar lordosis and clinical variables in elderly, African-American women.
abstract: Several authors have hypothesized that there is a link between lumbar lordosis and low back pain. These relationships have not been previously described in a sample consisting exclusively of elderly, African-American women. The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between lumbar lordosis and radiologic variables and lumbar lordosis and clinical variables in elderly, African-American women. A total of 475 African-American women enrolled in the multicenter Study of Osteoporotic Fractures participated in this ancillary, cross-sectional, study of lumbar lordosis. These women received lumbar spine radiographs and completed a questionnaire on low back pain and its impact on their daily lives. Lumbar lordosis tertiles were created based on radiographic measurements. Comparisons were made between the tertiles for differences in radiologic and clinical variables. Significant differences (p < 0.0025) were observed between the lordosis tertiles and the presence of spondylolisthesis, intervertebral disc space, and vertebral wedging. No significant differences were observed between the lordosis tertiles for the occurrence of low back pain, symptoms associated with low back pain, and disability experienced from low back pain. The degree of lumbar lordosis was associated with radiologic variables but was not associated with symptoms or decreased function from low back pain. These findings question the clinical utility of the lumbar lordosis measurement in elderly, African-American women.
authors.affiliation: Brooks Center for Rehabilitation Studies and Center for Pain Research and Behavioral Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. sgeorge@hp.ufl.edu
authors.forename: Steven Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Gregory E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nevitt
authors.forename: Jane A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cauley
authors.forename: Molly T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Vogt
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008141:Lordosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011859:Radiography; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric