Changes in Intervertebral Disk Dimensions After a Loading Task and the Relationship With Stature Change Measurements

Objective: To test the hypothesis that there would be a linear relationship between overall stature change determined by stadiometry and markers of lumbar disk height loss determined from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Design: The short-term loading response of the lumbar spine was evaluated with both stadiometry and MRI, using a within-subject repeated-measures design. Measures were obtained both before and after 15 minutes of walking wearing a weighted vest (20% of body mass). Stature loss measured on the stadiometer was compared with change in lumbar spine length assessed from the MRI images. Setting: A university laboratory. Participants: Participants (N = 13; mean age +/- SD, 28.5 +/- 5.2y; mean height +/- SD, 1.76 +/- 0.10m; mean body mass SD, 76.6 +/- 14.9kg) were invited to take part in the investigation. The group was mixed (9 men, 4 women) and comprised people with no history of low back pain. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Lumbar spine length assessed via MRI and stature change measured via stadiometry. Results: A significant height loss was observed over the complete lumbar spine (P<.05), and a significant correlation was found between the decrease in posterior spine length and stature loss (r = .61). Conclusions: The results were supportive of the use of stadiometry as an indirect measure of changes in intervertebral disk height.