Abstract
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationships between lumbar movement and pelvis, thorax and shoulder range of motion during forward arm elevation by patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 19 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. The pelvic, thoracic, and lumbar movements during forward arm elevation, and shoulder range of motion were measured. The relationships between lumbar movement and the other parameters, and between shoulder range of motion and the pelvic and thoracic angles were analyzed. [Results] There were significant relationships between lumbar movement and pelvis angle, thorax angle, shoulder flexion angle, 1st internal rotation and 2nd external rotation, and between thoracic movement and shoulder flexion angle, 1st internal rotation and 2nd external rotation. [Conclusion] These results suggest that improvement of shoulder flexion angle, 1st internal rotation and 2nd external rotation in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis would reduce lumbar and thoracic movement during forward arm elevation.
