LUMBAR BIOMECHANICS

About 50* of flexion occurs in a normal lumbar spine. The range of flexion increases from cranial to caudal dirrection. Pelvic-on- femoral flexion causes increased tension in hamstrings and cont flexion in lumbar region reverses natural lordosis at low back.

Flexion

Inferior articular facets of one superior lumbar vertebra( for eg.L2) slide anteriorly and superiorly as compared to superior facets of the inferior(for eg. L3). Intervertebral disks are compressed and post lig tensed. Prolonged slouch posture may cause overstretching of capsules of apophyseal joints.

It increases the natural lordosis and combined with hip extension it causes the tensed hip flexors and lig to maintain the ant pelvic tilt and thereby lumbar extension. Facets move in exactly opposite direction for eg a sup L2 facet will slide inf and sup in relation to the sup articular facet of L3 Full extension increases the load and contact area of apophyseal joints.

Extension

Only 5 degrees of rotation is possible in lumbar region on either side. For eg. Rotation to right- joint seperation onto right side and compression to the left side. The biomechanical resistance to rotation increases the vertical stability of lumbar spine which is reinforced by multifidus and SI joint.

Rotations

15-20 degrees on either side. Limited by contralateral soft tissues. Lateral flexion to one side is generally accompanied by opposite side rotations of vertebra.

Lateral Flexion

ROM

Lumbo-pelvic Rhythm

Normal- Lumbar spine and hips(pelvis on hips) flex simultaneously. Tight Hamstrings-Lumbar spine compensates by increasing lumbar flexion. Limited lumbar flexion- Excessive hip flexion with a flat back.

Lumbopelvic Rhythm-Flexion

Excessive lumbar flexion- causes overelongation of post structuresligaments, capsules of apophyseal joints. Excessive hip flexion- Increased load on hip extensors and increased compressive forces on hip joint.

Normal- Initiated from hips and completed by lumbar extension. Delayed lumbar extension causes the extension torque demands to be shifted onto more powerful muscles like hamstrings and glut max. Weak hip ext will therefore put load on the weak lumbar extensors to overcome the torque demands and cause pain and injury.

Lumbopelvic Extension

Ant pelvic tilt- causes lumbar extension It shifts nucleus pulposes ant. Post Pelvic Tilt- causes lumbar flexion It shifts nucleus pulp. Post. The posture of lumbar and pelvis affects the entire axial skeleton posture. Generally seen with slouch posture is forward head posture.

Effect of pelvic tilt on Lumbar Spine

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