Functional Analysis of the Spine with the Idiag SpinalMouse System among Sedentary Workers Affected by Non-Specific Low Back Pain

Abstract

WHO describes “low back pain” (LBP) as the most common problem in overall occupational-related diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate characteristics of spinal functionality among sedentary workers and determine usability of the SpinalMouse® skin-surface measurement device in workplace settings in a risk population for LBP. The spinal examination was implemented at National Instruments Corporations’ Hungarian subsidiary, Debrecen in October, 2015, involving 95 white-collar employees as volunteers to assess spinal posture and functional movements. Data from the physical examination of 91 subjects (age: 34.22 ± 7.97 years) were analyzed. Results showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in posture and mobility of the spinal regions in sitting compared to standing position. Significant positive correlations were observed between values measured in standing and sitting positions in all observed regions and aspects of the spine (p < 0.05) except posture of lumbar extension (p = 0.07) and mobility of sacrum/hip in E-F (p = 0.818). Significant (p < 0.001) difference (5.70°) was found between the spinal inclination in sitting 6.47 ± 3.55° compared to standing 0.77 ± 2.53 position. Sitting position has a negative effect on the posture and mobility of the spine among white-collar employees. The SpinalMouse can be used effectively to determine spinal posture and mobility in cross-sectional studies and impact analysis of physical exercise interventions.

Assessment of Spinal Range of Motion and Musculoskeletal Discomfort in Forklift Drivers. A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Similarly to forklift drivers, office workers spend most of the workday in a sitting position. They also suffer from MSDs, such as non-specific neck pain [ 33 , 37 , 38 , 39 ], hand and wrist symptoms [ 38 ], and lumbar pain [ 32 , 37 , 40 , 41 ]. Waongenngarm et al pointed out that the prolonged postural loading of the spine while sitting can reduce joint lubrication and fluid content of intervertebral discs and increase stiffness, which can be detrimental to back health [ 42 ].…”

Comparison of spinal column alignment and autonomic nervous activity using the intersegmental tenderness test in the segment above

“…In this study, in order to measure stable values, the subjects were asked to wear an open-back examination gown, and their posture was indicated. The participants were made to sit in a height-adjustable chair without a backrest in a sitting posture that included 90° hip/knee flexion 20) . They were instructed to keep their feet shoulder-width apart, arms at their sides, and face straight and horizontal toward the wall 20) .…”

“…The participants were made to sit in a height-adjustable chair without a backrest in a sitting posture that included 90° hip/knee flexion 20) . They were instructed to keep their feet shoulder-width apart, arms at their sides, and face straight and horizontal toward the wall 20) . The examiner, a therapist with more than 10 years of clinical experience, palpated the spine and marked each spinous process.…”

Impact Analysis of 20-Week Multimodal Progressive Functional–Proprioceptive Training among Sedentary Workers Affected by Non-Specific Low-Back Pain: An Interventional Cohort Study

“…The overall and regional spinal mobility and posture were measured in the sagittal and frontal planes both in sitting and standing positions using SpinalMouse (Idiag, Volkerswill, Switzerland), a wireless electronic measurement device [23]. The preparation and the sagittal plane examination were performed according to the same procedure explained in the previous publication of our pilot study [24].…”

“…The examination was performed only once with no warm-up or practice before, according to the verbal instructions of the examiner [24,25].…”