In healthy subjects, the sitting position can be used to validate the postural effects induced by wearing a lumbar lordosis brace

Brief review

*Title: In healthy subjects, the sitting position can be used to validate the postural effects induced by wearing a lumbar lordosis brace

*Author: M. Mathias, P.R. Rougier

*Bibliography: Annals of Physical andRehabilitation Medicine 53 (2010) 511–519

Aim of the study

To assess the validity of the sitting position when testing lumbar braces for the maintenance of lordosis.

Patients and methods

▶Subject number: 12 young adults (seated on force platform)

▶Experimental conditions (4 ways)

1. with a brace

2. without a brace

3. with enforced lordosis

4. without enforced lordosis

(For distinguish between the roles played by lordosis and the brace)

-The trajectories of the centre of pressure (CP) were analyzed and compared.

(To assess postural orientation and stabilisation processes)

Results

-Using the lumbar brace led to reduction in CP displacement (along the mediolateral and anteroposterior axes).

-Lordosis barely affected postural performance and only an increase in the mean CP velocity was observed.

-An analysis of variance failed to reveal an interaction between the “lordosis” and “brace” factors.

Conclusion

-A lumbar brace (in the absence or presence of lordosis) helps subjects to improve their sitting performance.

-Function of brace wear emphasises the discriminant power of the sitting position: significant differences

-This task should be applied more widely in the development of more appropriate, validated equipment for lower back pain sufferers.