Correlation between radiographic sagittal alignment, range of motion, muscle strength, and quality of life in adults with spinal deformities.
Yoshiki Saimon, Ah-Cheng Goh, Kimito Momose and 4 others
PMID 32158077WHAT IT FOUND
In adults with spinal deformities, most measured links between spine alignment, movement, strength and quality of life were not found.
A few links appeared, but some key measures were done in only 9 participants, so this cannot change practice alone.
Key findings
01Most tested relationships between sagittal alignment and movement or strength, and between quality of life and movement or strength, were not significant.
02Significant correlations included SVA with hip extension ROM, PT with TLS, PI-LL with TLS, JOABPEQ pain with lumbar spine ROM, and JOABPEQ gait with knee extension ROM and iliopsoas flexibility.
03Some significant findings were based on only 9 participants and the paper says they could be biased.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The sample was small: 26 adults were analysed, and the number who had each measurement varied from 6 to 26 because of dropouts. Some key results were based on only 9 participants, including hip extension range of motion and JOABPEQ quality-of-life scores. The testing required more than one day, and participants dropped out because of pain, discomfort, or unwillingness to continue. The study was cross-sectional and correlational, so it cannot say whether range of motion or strength problems caused alignment changes or quality-of-life changes. People with lower limb pain, neurological disorders, recent spinal compression fractures or ankylosis, and hip disorders were excluded. The methods text gives mean age 78.6 ± 7.5 years, while Table 1 gives 70.9 ± 7.5 years. The results text gives r=-0.51 for the TLK-OWD correlation, while Table 2 and the discussion give r=0.51.
Declared interests
The paper states no funding and no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the reported link between forward trunk position and hip extension range of motion as proof that hip extension treatment will correct the trunk position. The study was cross-sectional, had many dropouts, and tested no treatment.