Study on the kinematic pattern of lumbar spine in subjects with varied bone mineral density

Lumbar spine kinematics were assessed and studied in subjects with normal bone mineral density, osteopenia, and osteoporosis to examine the extension-flexion movement pattern and determine the effect of bone mineral density on the movement pattern of lumbar spine. Both radiographs and surface motion tracking were employed to measure lumbar spine kinematics. Several movement patterns were consistently observed on all subjects, while subjects with osteopenia or osteoporosis do not possess the same ordered vertebral acceleration seen in subjects with normal bone density. This is the first study showing altered kinematic pattern during lumbar spine movement in subjects with osteoporosis. The results provide new insight in the pathology of osteoporotic patients, which would help clinical applications as well.