Changes in spinal curvature when lying supine on a bed increases with backrest angle -comparison of two types of sitting position

Abstract

[Purpose] We evaluated the influence of bed-backrest angles on spinal curvature and compared the results with those for the sitting position. [Subjects] Ten healthy adults. [Methods] Spinal curvature was measured using a Spinal Mouse and compared across 5 conditions: lying supine on a bed with backrest angles of 0°, 30°, and 60°; and slump sitting and erect sitting. [Results] At backrest angles of 30°and 60°, spinal curvature exceeded a neutral position and became kyphotic. Compared to a backrest angle of 0° and erect sitting, there was significant kyphosis. [Conclusions] From the perspective of spinal curvature, the possibility of pain worsening when a patient with a vertebral compression fracture is getting out of bed may be smaller when the patient is in an erect sitting position compared to sitting with a backrest angle of ≥30°.