The present systematic review of observational studies with meta-analysis aim to identify the reference values of the spinal curvatures in the sagittal plane, as evaluated using the Cobb angle in X-rays, in healthy individuals. Electronic searches were undertaken in MEDLINE, Scopus, ScienceDirect and LILACS. Studies that evaluated the spinal curvature of healthy children, adolescents, adults, and elderly using Cobb method and presented reference values for those curvatures were incluced. Thirty-one studies were eligible for inclusion. The reference values found (confidence interval 95%) were: for children, thoracic (28.7°-37.9°), lumbar L1-L5 (34.5o-44.8º), and lumbar L1-S1 (41.7o-54.1o); for adolescents: thoracic (31.5o-39.2o), lumbar L1-L5 (39.8o-45.6o), and lumbar L1-S1 (51.9o-59.1o); for adults: thoracic (33.7o-40.3o), lumbar L1-L5 (38.1o-45.6o), and lumbar L1-S1 (54.2o-61.7o); and for the elderly: thoracic (37.7º-50.4o), and lumbar L1- S1 (56.6º-65.9o). For the cervical region, it was impossible to establish consistent reference values. The present study supports that precise reference intervals were identified for the sagittal curvatures of the thoracic and lumbar spine in healthy children, adolescents, adults and elderly, as evaluated by means of the Cobb Method.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the behaviour of postural variables and the associated factors, like back pain and life habits, in schoolchildren during a period of four years. Forty-two school children underwent a postural assessment using Digital Image-Based Postural Assessment software. They also answered the self-administered questionnaire titled, “Back Pain and Body Posture Evaluation Instrument” to evaluate their back pain and life habits. We observed a significant trend of forward head, thoracic hyper kyphosis, and lumbar hyper lordosis in the entire group, as well as a trend of cervical rectification in girls. Both boys and girls presented a constant frequency in back pain, but girls presented higher prevalence along the years. We found a high prevalence of poor sitting posture in male (between 72.2-89.5%) and female (between 73.3-100%). We also found that girls had poor posture due to the way they carried their school supplies. However, occurred a decrease of time spent in front of television for male (from 87% to 10.5%) and female (from 93.3% to 0%). Significant changes occurred in analysed variables over evaluation period.

The objective of this review was to examine the scientific evidence regarding the aspects of validation in non-invasive methods of assessing the spine in the sagittal plane. A systematic search was conducted in following data bases Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed and Medline. To be included the papers must have: conducted a non-invasive assessment of thoracic kyphosis and/or lumbar lordosis; evaluated at least one aspect of validity; been written in English; and been published in the previously three decades. Papers that score less than three in the QUADAS scale were excluded. Initially, 70 articles were pre-selected. Of this, 52 were finally included as they met the quality criterion. Based on this review, the following techniques/instruments were found to present satisfactory results for all aspects of validity in the assessment of thoracic kyphosis: photogrammetry, flexible ruler, archometer, and DeBrunner’skyphometer. Similarly, photogrammetry, inclinometer, flexible ruler, archometer and kypholordometer were found to present satisfactory results in the assessment of lumbar lordosis. Therefore, it is suggested that these instruments be adopted as first choice for evaluating the spine in the sagittal plane, since they present adequate reproducibility and concurrent validity.

Objective : To evaluate and compare proprioception, body balance and knee functionality of individuals with or without unilateral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Methods : Forty individuals were divided in two groups: Experimental group, 20 individuals with ACL reconstruction at six months postoperative, and control group, 20 individuals with no history of lower limb pathologies. In the experimental group, we assessed lower limbs with reconstructed ACL and contralateral limb; in the control group the dominant and the non-dominant lower limbs were assessed. All subjects were submitted to joint position sense test to evaluate proprioception, postural control measure in single-limb, and step up and down (SUD) test for functional assessment. Results : There were no deficits in proprioception and postural control. In the SUD test, a 5% decrease in lift up force was found in reconstructed ACL lower limbs, however, a statistically not significant difference. The impact and step down force during the course of test were 30% greater in anatomic ACL than in control lower limbs. Conclusion : The individuals with ACL reconstruction at six months postoperative did not show changes in proprioception and postural control, but showed motor control changes, influencing knee functionality. Level of Evidence IV, Prognostic Studies.

O objetivo do estudo foi verificar radiograficamente se a posição dos marcadores de superfície, identificados por palpação em ortostase, é alterada com a modificação da postura para o decúbito lateral. Dez indivíduos foram: palpados e marcados com adesivos de superfície, os processos espinhosos das vértebras C7, T2, T4, T6, T8, T10, T12, L2, L4 e S2; submetidos a um exame radiológico da coluna vertebral na posição ortostática e em decúbito lateral direito para verificar se o marcador de superfície colocado sobre o processo espinhoso estava condizente com o processo espinhoso da imagem radiográfica. Uma ANOVA two-way mostrou diferenças significativas para o deslocamento do marcador de superfície entre as posições para as vértebras C7, T2, T4, T6, T8, T10, L2 e S2 (p<0,001). Nas vértebras T12 e L4 não foram encontradas diferenças significativas. Os resultados indicam que a localização do marcador de superfície não foi condizente com o processo espinhoso identificado no exame radiológico, entre as posições. O movimento da pele pode ter deslocado o marcador de superfície, quando o indivíduo modificou sua posição da posição ortostática para decúbito lateral direito.

The objective was to radiographically verify if the position of skin markers, identified by palpation in orthostasis posture, changes when the subject position shifts to lying posture. Ten subjects underwent two X-ray tests, first, in orthostasis and right lying posture. Ten subjects were palpated and marked with skin markers in the orthostasis posture, in the spinous process of the vertebrae C7, T2, T4, T6, T8, T10, T12, L2, L4 and S2 . After palpation, subjects underwent X-ray exams in orthostasis and lying postures to verify if the surface marker matched the spinous process shown on X-ray. A two-way ANOVA indicated significant differences for the displacement of the skin markers, for the C7, T2, T4, T6, T8, T10, L2 and S2 spinous processes (p<0.001). The T12 and L4 spinous processes did not indicate significant differences. The skin markers locations were not consistent with the spinous processes identified in X-rays for both positions. The skin movement may have displaced the skin markers when the subject changed from orthostasis to lying posture.