Reliability of an accelerometer-based system for quantifying multiregional spinal range of motion.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability of a novel motion analysis device for measuring the regional breakdown of spinal motion and describing the relative motion of different segments of the thoracolumbar (TL) spine.

METHODS

Two protocols were applied to 18 healthy participants. In protocol 1, 2 sensors were placed on the forehead and T1 to measure cervical range of motion (ROM). In protocol 2, 6 sensors were placed on the spinous processes of T1, T4, T8, T12, L3, and S1 to measure TL regional ROM. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the repeatability of movement, whereas SEM was used to define the extent of error. Ranges of motion were demonstrated in flexion extension, right-left lateral flexion, and right-left rotation of the head-cervical, upper thoracic, middle thoracic, lower thoracic, upper lumbar, and lower lumbar.

RESULTS

The intraclass correlation coefficient values, for all regions, were found to be high, ranging from 0.88 to 0.99 for all movements, and regions of the spine and SEM values ranged from 0.4° to 5.2°. Multiregional spine ROM ranged from 3° in the upper thoracic and mid-thoracic during flexion and 80° at head cervical during right rotation.

CONCLUSION

The described methodology was reliable for assessing regional spinal ROM across multiple spinal regions while providing the relative motions of different segments of the TL spine.