Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026
Evaluation of Patients' Posture and Gait Profile After Lumbar Fusion Surgery by Video Rasterstereography and Treadmill Gait Analysis
Published on: March 23, 2019
Validation of a novel spinal posture monitor: comparison with digital videofluoroscopy
Kieran O'Sullivan1, Sabine Verschueren, Steven Pans
1Physiotherapy Department, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. kieran.osullivan@ul.ie
Purpose:
A novel, minimally invasive posture monitor which can monitor lumbar postures outside the laboratory has demonstrated excellent reliability, as well as concurrent validity compared to a surface marker-based motion analysis system. However, it is unclear if this device reflects underlying vertebral motion.
Methods:
Twelve participants performed full range sagittal plane lumbo-pelvic movements during sitting and standing. Their posture was measured simultaneously using both this device (BodyGuard™) and digital videofluoroscopy.
Results:
Strong correlations were observed between the two methods (all r (s) > 0.88). Similarly, the coefficients of determination were high (all r (2) > 0.78). The maximum mean difference between the measures was located in the mid-range of motion and was approximately 3.4° in sitting and 3.9° in standing.
Conclusion:
The BodyGuard™ appears to be a valid method for analysing vertebral motion in the sagittal plane and is a promising tool for long-term monitoring of spinal postures in laboratory and clinical settings in people with low back pain.
