title: Three dimensional analysis of spino-pelvic alignment in individuals with acutely herniated lumbar intervertebral disc.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lumbar intervertebral disc herniation affects a large number of patients annually and are the most common cause of sciatica.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was aimed at measuring the spino-pelvic alignment and its relation to the functional limitations in subjects with acutely herniated lumbar disc.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients with acute Lumbar Disc Herniation (LDH group) and 16 healthy matched volunteers (healthy group) represented the sample of the study. The patients were recently diagnosed as lumbar disc herniation (L4-5 or L5-S1) with acute sciatica and antalgic posture using magnetic resonance imaging. Spino-pelvic alignment was measured via Rasterstereography. Functional disability among patients was assessed using Oswestry Disability Index Arabic version.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Trunk inclination, trunk imbalance, pelvic obliquity, pelvic torsion, lordotic and scoliotic angles were significantly different between groups (P ≤ 0.05). A non-significant difference in kyphotic angle was found between the patients and healthy controls. There was no association between the measured postural changes and functional disabilities in patients with lumbar disc herniation (P ≤ 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are significant postural changes in patients with acutely herniated lumbar disc which has no relation to functional disability. These results support the concept of staying active during acute stage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy for Neuromuscular Disorders and its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt.|Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Hail, KSA E-mail: mekhallaf@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohamed Elsayed
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Khallaf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007403:Intervertebral Disc; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007738:Kyphosis; D008141:Lordosis; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011187:Posture; D012585:Sciatica / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Lumbar disc herniation; functional disability; posture