2008 Volume 57 Issue 4 Pages 485-490
A number of studies have described typical scapular kinematics during arm elevation in adults. However, spinal structure and function differ between normal and elderly adults. To our knowledge, trunk kinematics during arm elevation in the elderly has never been clarified. The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the kinematics patterns of the trunk during arm elevation between normal and elderly adults. Forty-one normal adults (14 male and 27 female, mean age 22.1±1.1 years) and twenty-eight elderly adults (8 male and 20 female, mean age 75.8±7.2 years) participated in this study. The kinematics data were collected using an analog digital measuring device to record the sagittal outline of the back by using the Spinal Mouse system (Idiag AG, Switzerland). Subjects were instructed to raise their arm in the scapular plane, and measurements were performed with the arm in the dependent position, at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 degrees of abduction, and maximum abduction. The normal adult group demonstrated a significant decrease in thoracic kyphosis at 150 degrees and maximum abduction, and an increase in pelvic tilt at the maximum abduction ; while the elderly group showed no significant differences. This study demonstrates that there are significant differences in thoracic and pelvic kinematics patterns between normal adults and elderly adults. From a clinical prospective, these results can be applied to improve shoulder movements in the elderly.
