New method of measuring the degree of lumbar spine curvature in pregnant women

Abstract

There are very few studies which record measurements of the degree of lumbar spine curvature. This study reports a new method of measuring the angle of curvature of the lumbar spine in pregnant women, using photography. It is a simple, cost-effective and non-invasive method which can be used in the laboratory or the clinical situation. The study sample consisted of 13 healthy, middle-class, English-speaking, South African, Caucasian women, aged between 20 and 40 years, in the third trimester of pregnancy. A mean angle of 33,9 ±3,6 (SD) degrees, representing the degree of lumbar spine curvature, was obtained.