title: Video based measurement of sagittal range of spinal motion in young and older adults.
abstract: A revised model of skin marker placement with the two-dimensional (2D) PEAK Motus system was used to investigate the effect of aging on sagittal range of spinal motion. Twenty-four healthy young adults and twenty-two healthy older adults were videotaped while performing the movements of flexion and extension in each spinal region--cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. Alternative movement tests that may allow a greater range of motion (ROM) for thoracic extension and lumbar flexion were also investigated. Older adults demonstrated significantly decreased flexion/extension ranges in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. The movement of cat-stretch in the all-fours position allowed greater thoracic extension, and the movement of toe-touch in standing permitted greater lumbar flexion. This study provides reference data for sagittal ranges of spinal motion in healthy young and older adults as measured by a 2D imaged-based system. The sagittal model of skin marker placement used in this study can have a broader application for ROM measurement in the clinical setting using a digital camera and freely downloadable software.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Shu Zen College of Medicine and Management, Kaohsiung County 821, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Liang
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Tully
authors.forename: Mary P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Galea
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012984:Software; D013131:Spine / Q000502:physiology*; D014741:Video Recording