The prevalence and severity of lumbar spine motion impairment in normal subjects.
METHODS
Crosssectional.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence and severity of lumbar spine motion impairment in normal subjects.


BACKGROUND
A prior study of cervical and lumbar spine impairment indicated that a high percentage of normal subjects had impairment.


METHODS
A total of 579 normal subjects were assessed for lumbar spine motion impairment using 3 editions (Third Edition Revised, Fourth Edition, and Fifth Edition) of the American Medical Association Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides).


RESULTS
Eighty percent to 86% of normal subjects had impairment due to loss of lumbar motion.


CONCLUSIONS
A high percentage of normal subjects will have lumbar spine impairment due to loss of lumbar motion using the AMA Guides.
Colorado Occupational Medicine Physicians, P.C., Thornton, CO 80229, USA. mrs@comp-pc.com
Michael R
MR
Striplin
Dee Jay
DJ
Beach
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000574:American Medical Association; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012016:Reference Values; D014481:United States