title: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF LUMBAR RANGE OF MOVEMENT IN HEALTHY ATHLETES AND NON-ATHLETES.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the amplitude of trunk flexion and extension through goniometry among athletes and non-athletes and to correlate these data with the popliteal angle and hamstring muscle tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  The amplitude of trunk flexion and extension was evaluated in 50 individuals who practiced sports on a regular basis and 50 non-athletes who did not present any painful lumber symptoms or any symptoms that could affect test performance. The measurements were made consecutively by two independent examiners by means of goniometry. The trunk flexion and extension values from the goniometry evaluation were correlated with the popliteal angle and hamstring flexibility tests, and the statistical correlation between them was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean values obtained were 130.7 (101.9) for flexion and 40.2 (36.4) for extension. Statistically significant differences between the athletes and non-athletes were found in relation to the following parameters: goniometer in flexion with examiner 1, goniometer in flexion with examiner 2 and hamstring test. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in relation to the following parameters: goniometer in extension with examiner 1, goniometer in extension with examiner 2 and popliteal angle test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals who practiced sports presented higher trunk flexion values. The use of goniometry to measure trunk amplitude showed variations in measurements between the examiners.
authors.affiliation: Resident Physician in Orthopedics and Traumatology, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chertman
authors.affiliation: Resident Physician in Thoracic Surgery, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP.
authors.forename: Humberto Maldonado
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Campoy Dos Santos
authors.affiliation: MSc in Sciences from Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of Sao Paulo; Attending Physiotherapist at the Sports Traumatology Center (Cete), Sao Paulo, SP.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.affiliation: MSc in Sciences, Attending Physician in the Spine Group, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of Sao Paulo, and at the Sports Traumatology Center (Cete), Sao Paulo, SP.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wajchenberg
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student and Attending Physician in the Spine Group, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of Sao Paulo, and at the Sports Traumatology Center (Cete), Sao Paulo, SP.
authors.forename: Delio Eulúlio
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Full Professor and Head of the Spine Group, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP.
authors.forename: Eduardo Barros
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Puertas
keywords: Arthrometry; Athletes; Spine; articular