Twisting of the Human Back in Forward Flexion

This paper addresses the role of torsion in the production of spinal injury and in particular the possibility of injury resulting from torsion combined with flexion. The back movement of 16 normal male subjects was measured using a non-invasive, three-dimensional measurement system for assessing spinal mobility, the opto-electronic CODA-3 scanner. Measurements were made of the ability to twist the back while standing upright and in two flexed postures. Rotational ability was shown, in general, to be increased in a flexed posture, presumed to be due to an opening of the lumbar zygapophysial joints. This suggests that twisting in a flexed posture could be a mechanism for intervertebral disc injury.