The Exploration of Sagittal Spine Curvature: Validating a surface topography method & relating curvature to physical function

Abnormal or altered sagittal spine curvature is associated with poor health-related outcomes including pain, impaired physical function and mobility, decreased quality of life, and increased mortality. Therefore, it is important to both understand its consequences as well as accurately measure and monitor curvature. The overarching aim of this thesis was to explore sagittal spine curvature by validating a new surface measurement tool and implementing it in a clinical setting in order to understand and relate it to physical function outcomes. The findings from the first stage of this thesis came from an exploratory analysis of a large physiotherapy randomised controlled trial; it showed that there was an apparent, but weak, correlation between thoracic kyphosis and aspects of balance, walking capacity and physical performance in people with osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF). Since this analysis took into account only the thoracic spine region, there was a need to explore the relationship further, but with a surface measurement tool that had a higher potential for a robust description of sagittal spine curvature. The second stage of the thesis focused on the protocol development and testing of the Microsoft Kinect sensor, a new technology for surface topography measurement. The Kinect sensor demonstrated high reliability and aspects of validity in thoracolumbar measurement. In the last stage, the Kinect sensor was used as an outcome measure in a cohort study aimed at relating sagittal spine curvature with walking and balance related outcome measures in people with symptomatic degenerative spinal conditions. In its implementation, the Kinect sensor demonstrated good utility and acceptability as a measurement tool, but the findings between curvature and physical function showed weak correlational and predictive relationships, likely due to the confounding spinal presentations and the small sample size. The novel contributions of this thesis included understanding the response to physiotherapy in people with severe hyperkyphosis and OVF, the method development and testing of an new surface topography measurement tool, and the successful implementation of the tool and method in a relevant clinical cohort.

Grantor dc:publisher

Oxford Brookes University

Year dc:date

2021

Author dc:creator

• Hannink, Erin Nicole

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dawes, Helen
• Barker, Karen
• Delextrat, Anne

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved

Language dc:language

en

DOI dc:identifier

https://doi.org/10.24384/ef5x-9149

OAI identifier oai:identifier

tle:f7b66638-b8a2-42f2-8d3e-7028eb785f84:d6bd9758-527a-46cd-bfe2-c433766e8fca:1