Objective: This study is designed for comparison of the clinical usefulness between computerized and manual inclinometer and to find out more reliable and acceptable method in measuring spinal ROM (range of motion).

Method: Twenty healthy volunteers (mean age 23⁑4) were selected. Spinal ROM was measured by computerized and manual inclinometer twice a week. Data was analyzed with paired t-test and Pearson's correlation test.

Results: There was no significant difference between the measured value of two methods. In the repeated measurement by computerized inclinometer, there was significant reliability of spinal ROM except right rotation of the lumbar spine, and by manual inclinometer, there was significant reliability of spinal ROM except cervical left lateral bending, thoracic lateral bending, and lumbar right rotation (p＜0.05). In cases of computerized inclinometer, estimated times to measuring ROM were 8 min 46 sec in cervical spine, 10 min 22 sec in thoracic spine, 9 min 50 sec in lumbar spine, and of manual inclinometer, those were 3 min 27 sec in cervical spine, 5 min 8 sec in thoracic spine, 4 min 35 sec in lumbar spine.

Conclusion: In the measurement of spinal ROM, computerized inclinometer is more reliable than manual inclinometer for its higher reliability, but has a limitation of long measurement time. This study suggest that computerized inclinometer can be acceptable tool for accurate measuring spinal ROM. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2002; 26: 456- 460)

Measurement of spinal range of motion(ROM) can be effectively used in guiding the direction of therapy, determining the patient's response to rehabilitation treatment and functional assessment. However for a method of measurement to be commonly used in clinical and research settings, it must be easy to perform, rapid and highly reliable. The purpose of this study was to determine the possibility of clinical application of 2-dimensional motion analysis system to measure spinal ROM in patients with low back pain(LBP).

Subjects included 10 healthy males and 10 patients with LBP. Using Electronic Digital Inclinometer (EDI 320) and 2-dimensional motion analysis system, thoracic, lumbar and pelvic ROMs were measured for trunkal flexion, extension, lateral flexion and rotation. Also proportions of decreased ROMs in LBP patients relative to healthy subjects and movement patterns of each spinal segment according to time sequence were investigated.

LBP patients compared to normal subjects showed significantly low spinal ROM(P＜0.05) except thoracic and pelvic ROM for extension. When looking at the change of each spinal ROM in respect to time with motion analysis system, normal subjects showed synchronized and sigmoid motion curve time from the initiation to the end of motion in all areas of spine during 4 motions. LBP patients took longer time from the initiation to the end of each motion, and showed smaller initial change and fluctuation in spinal ROM during each motion compared to normal subjects.

The results of this preliminary study suggest that 2-dimensional motion analysis system can be effectively used for measuring spinal ROM in patients with LBP.