Quantifying the effects of degeneration and other patient factors on lumbar segmental range of motion using multivariate analysis.
METHODS
Retrospective review and multivariate analysis.


OBJECTIVE
Assess lumbar spine segmental range of motion (ROM) with flexion/extension (F/E) radiographs and determine the relation to clinical variables.


BACKGROUND
Prior studies have investigated the roles of age and degeneration on lumbar segmental ROM only using univariate analyses. Multivariate analyses are also required to differentiate the multiple factors that may affect ROM and quantify their relative effects.


METHODS
Radiographs of 258 patients were analyzed, including 137 females and 121 males with ages ranging from 18 to 92 years. Segmental ROM and Kellgren score (KS) of degeneration were assessed for L1-S1. Multivariate regression analyses were performed for each level. Predicting variables evaluated were: (1) KS at the level of interest, (2) KS at the level above, (3) KS at the level below, (4) age, (5) gender, (6) weight, (7) height, (8) body mass index (BMI), and (9) smoking. Significance was defined as P < 0.05.


RESULTS
Interobserver reliabilities for assessing KS (ICC 0.70) and segmental ROM (ICC 0.80) were good to excellent. In the multivariate analyses, age had a significant negative association with ROM at L1-L2, L2-L3, L3-L4, and L4-L5. BMI had a significant negative association with ROM at L2-L3, L3-L4, and L4-L5. KS at the level of interest had significant negative association with ROM only at L5-S1. KS at adjacent levels, gender, weight, height, and smoking did not have a significant association with ROM at any level.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study provide the clinician with insight into factors that influence segmental lumbar ROM. Age was the strongest statistical predictor of ROM and was associated with declining ROM, amounting to an approximate 3 degrees decrease in total sagittal lumbar ROM in the superior 4 segments every 10 years. BMI was another factor associated with lumbar ROM. Degeneration was a significant predictor of ROM only at L5-S1.
Bible
Jesse E
JE
Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8071, USA.
Simpson
Andrew K
AK
Emerson
John W
JW
Biswas
Debdut
D
Grauer
Jonathan N
JN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011859:Radiography / Q000592:standards; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*