Background: Low back pain (LBP) is associated with abnormal spinal
posture (lumbar hypo-/hyper-lordosis).The radiographic method (X-ray) is
costly and risky. Therefore, testing the validity of safer and cheaper
methods such as inclinometer is needed due to lack of research.
Purpose: to test the validity of inclinometric method compared
to radiographic one in measuring lumbar curvature.
Methods: This diagnostic accuracy study included thirty-one patients of
both genders complained from LBP with mean age of 40.4 years.They
were categorized into two groups; group A included 18 patients whom
lumbar lordotic angle (LLA) was measured with inclinometer and group
B included 13 patients whom LLA was measured by Cobb, s angle (on
plain X-ray sagittal views).
Results: There was no significant differences between LLA measured by radiographic and inclinometric methods (MD=5, P-value= 0.082).
Conclusion: Measuring LLA with inclinometer is valid compared to radiographic method in patients with LBP. Inclinometer is cheap,usable, and accessible in both research and clinical setting.