J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1994 Jul-Aug; 17(6): 353-8.

Range of motion of the lumbar spine required for four activities of daily living.

Hsieh CY, Pringle RK.

Research Division, Los Angeles College of Chiropractic, Whittier, CA 90609.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the range of motion of the lumbar spine required for four activities of daily living. DESIGN: Descriptive study. SETTING: Chiropractic college research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Forty-eight young and healthy subjects. INSTRUMENTATION: OSI CA-6000 computerized spinal motion analyzer. RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficient ranged from .99-.95 for peak flexion measurements. Stand-to-sit and sit-to-stand activities required approximately 56-66% of lumbar flexion. Putting on socks required about 90% of lumbar flexion. Picking an object off the floor required almost full lumbar flexion (95%). Analysis of variance showed significant differences among all four activities (p < .001). Scheffe tests revealed that the differences were found between sit/stand activities and picking up an object from the floor, and also between sit/stand activities and putting on socks. CONCLUSION: We showed that four activities of daily living could be reliably measured by an OSI CA-6000 motion analyzer. Putting on socks and picking up an object off the floor were found to require more lumbar flexion motion than sit/stand activities. Also, different strategies were observed in performing these activities. Future research shall address these activities and their changes in low back pain patients.