Changes in intervertebral disk dimensions after a loading task and the relationship with stature change measurements.
Lewis SE, Fowler NE. Changes in intervertebral disk dimensions after a loading task and the relationship with stature change measurements.


OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that there would be a linear relationship between overall stature change determined by stadiometry and markers of lumbar disk height loss determined from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).


METHODS
The short-term loading response of the lumbar spine was evaluated with both stadiometry and MRI, using a within-subject repeated-measures design. Measures were obtained both before and after 15 minutes of walking wearing a weighted vest (20% of body mass). Stature loss measured on the stadiometer was compared with change in lumbar spine length assessed from the MRI images.


METHODS
A university laboratory.


METHODS
Participants (N=13; mean age +/- SD, 28.5+/-5.2y; mean height +/- SD, 1.76+/-0.10m; mean body mass +/- SD, 76.6+/-14.9kg) were invited to take part in the investigation. The group was mixed (9 men, 4 women) and comprised people with no history of low back pain.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Lumbar spine length assessed via MRI and stature change measured via stadiometry.


RESULTS
A significant height loss was observed over the complete lumbar spine (P<.05), and a significant correlation was found between the decrease in posterior spine length and stature loss (r=.61).


CONCLUSIONS
The results were supportive of the use of stadiometry as an indirect measure of changes in intervertebral disk height.
Lewis
Sandra E
SE
Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Cheshire, United Kingdom. s.lewis@mmu.ac.uk
Fowler
Neil E
NE
D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D013131:Spine / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D016474:Weight-Bearing