Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Back pain and spinal injury are leading contributors to premature retirement, particularly in physically demanding occupations. Direct and practical methods of spinal assessment are needed to evaluate interventions aimed at reducing spinal loading and injury risk. Ultrasonography has been reliably used to estimate spinal compression via intervertebral disc height, but its reliability for measuring inter-transverse process distances under load has not been established. Methods: Eleven healthy adults underwent ultrasonographic measurement of inter-transverse process distances at each lumbar level (L1-L5), and the total lumbar distance under four loading conditions: (1) immediately on standing while unloaded, (2) after 15 min of unloaded standing, (3) after 15 min of standing loaded with a 25 kg weighted vest, and (4) after 30 min of loaded standing. These procedures were repeated after 1-7 days. Inter-rater, within-visit, and between-visit reliability were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and coefficients of variation (CV). Bland-Altman plots were used to assess agreement. A one-way analysis of variance was used to determine the effects of each loading condition on inter-transverse process distances. Results: = 0.02) following 15 and 30 min of loaded standing. Conclusion: Ultrasonography is a reliable, low-cost method for quantifying changes in lumbar spine geometry during loaded standing. This technique may have value in occupational and clinical settings for assessing spinal compression in response to mechanical load.
Source: JOR Spine
DOI: 10.1002/jsp2.70137
Authors: Sherrilyn Walters, Ben Hoffman, Celeste E. Coltman, Lester Walters, Muneeb Iqbal, Dean E. Mills
Language: English
Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,480
Funder: Australian Government
OpenAlex ID: W7128498979