The Influence Body Position and Axial Load on Spinal Stiffness

Assessing Normative Data, Reliability and the Influence of Body Position and Axial Load on Spinal Stiffness by Electromechanical Measurements in Young Healthy Adults

Status

Completed

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT03495843

Enrollment

120

Registered

2018-04-12

Start date

2018-02-01

Completion date

2018-07-08

Last updated

2018-07-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Healthy

Brief summary

The objective of this study is to examine the influence of body position and additional axial load on spinal stiffness in young healthy adults.

Detailed description

Spinal stiffness plays an important role in the assessment of the spine in the clinical daily routine. It is often performed as a manual PA-pressure test in the prone position. The spinal stiffness is the result of the resistance from the active, passive and neurological subsystems, like muscles (active), ligaments, joint capsule and the skin (passive). Further research had shown, that the spinal stiffness depends also from other factors. It is increased by axial compression. A better understanding of spinal stiffness leads to novel insights into spinal stabilization mechanisms.

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TESTSpinal stiffness

Spinal stiffness will be assessed with a device, which measures tissue compliance according to the concept of impulse-response

Study design

Observational model

COHORT

Time perspective

CROSS_SECTIONAL

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 30 Years

Inclusion criteria

* healthy

Exclusion criteria

* Acute backpain (thoracal or lumbar) * History of significant backpain (thoracal or lumbar) or radiating pain down the leg * Contraindications to PA mobilisation/manipulation * Spinal fractures * Spinal tumors * Surgical intervention in the thoracic and lumbar spine * Local infections of the spine or the surrounding tissue

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Spinal stiffness	Day one of the study	posterior-to-anterior spinal will be assesd in prone and upright body position and in upright body position with additional axial. The device measures tissue compliance according to the concept of impulse-response. A force of exact 80 Newton will be applied from the device to the process spinous. The expected impulse-response (result) will be between 40 Newton and 70 Newton.

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Pain during measuring spinal stiffness	Day one of the study	Visual Analogue Pain Rating Scale will be used if the particepants feel any pain during the measurement.The participant will be asked to rate his pain intensity on a straight line (100 millimeter) with two endpoints.

Countries

Switzerland

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026