Clinical and radiological parameters of posture in overweight individuals suffering of low back pain

ABSTRACT

Forty overweight individuals with low back pain and 40 normal [healthy] individuals were included in this study. An evaluation of the status of the sagittal spine angles in overweight individuals with low back pain and healthy individuals by clinical and radiological parameter was done. The results showed a significant difference in the angles of lumbar lordosis and sacral inclination between overweight and normal weight individuals, but there was no difference in the angles of thoracic kyphosis between both groups. The effect of body mass index seemed to be pronounced as the lumbar lordosis and sacral inclination in overweight individuals were increased and correlated with body mass index. There was also a correlation between the radiological evaluation of lumbar lordosis and sacral inclination in overweight individuals. However, the clinical judgment regarding the status of the lumbar lordosis and sacral inclination could be erroneous