title: Change in lumbar lordosis during prone lying knee flexion test in subjects with and without low back pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prone lying knee flexion (PLKF) is one of the clinical tests used for assessment of the lumbo-pelvic movement pattern. Considerable increase in lumbar lordosis during this test has been considered as impairment of movement patterns in lumbar-pelvic region. However, no study has directly evaluated the change in lordosis during active PLKF test in subjects with low back pain (LBP). The purpose of this study was to investigate the change of lumbar lordosis in PLKF test in subjects with and without LBP.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 80 subjects participated in the study. Subjects were categorized into two groups: those with chronic non-specific LBP (N = 40, mean age: 40.84 ± 17.59) and with no history of LBP (N = 40, mean age: 23.57 ± 10.61). Lumbar lordosis was measured with flexible ruler, first in prone position and then on active PKF test in both subjects with and without LBP. Data was analyzed by using statistical methods such as, independent t-test and paired t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were statistically significant differences in lumbar lordosis between prone position and after active PLKF in both subjects with and without LBP (P < 0.0001). The amount of change in lordosis during PLKF test was not significant between the two groups (P = 0.65). However these changes were greater among patients with LBP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increase in lumbar lordosis during this test may be due to excessive flexibility of movement of the lumbar spine in the direction of extension and abnormal movement patterns in the individuals with LBP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Velenjak, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Arab
authors.affiliation: University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Velenjak, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ailin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talimkhani
authors.affiliation: University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Velenjak, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Noureddin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karimi
authors.affiliation: University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Velenjak, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fetemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ehsani
keywords: Flexible ruler; Low back pain; Lumbar lordosis; Movement pattern; Prone knee flexion