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Updated: Jun 20, 2026
Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control
Published on: September 11, 2019
New insights into spinopelvic-hip motion age-related changes in postural adaptability
Hiroki Kishi1, Keiji Nagata1, Hiroshi Hashizume1
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama City, Wakayama, Japan.
Background:
Understanding how spinal, pelvic, and hip alignment changes with age is essential for optimizing orthopedic management in older adults. Postural transitions between standing and sitting require coordinated motion of the lumbar spine, pelvis, and hip joint, yet population-based reference data describing age- and sex-related changes in these motions remain limited. The purpose of this study was to clarify age- and sex-related differences in spinal-pelvic-hip motion between standing and sitting in a community-dwelling population.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study included 1148 community-dwelling adults (372 men and 776 women; mean age 64.6 years) from a community-based cohort in Japan, conducted as part of a nationwide prospective study of bone and joint disorders. Standardized full-spine lateral radiographs were obtained in standing and relaxed sitting postures. Angular parameters-lumbar lordosis, pelvic tilt, pelvic-femoral angle, and sacral slope-were measured, along with their posture-related changes between standing and sitting. Age- and sex-related differences were analyzed statistically.
Results:
All alignment parameters changed significantly between standing and sitting (all P < 0.001). Posture-related changes in lumbar lordosis, pelvic tilt, and sacral slope declined significantly with age (all P < 0.001), whereas posture-related change in pelvic-femoral angle increased modestly (P < 0.001). The proportion of participants meeting the pelvic rigidity threshold based on sacral slope increased steadily with age, from approximately 22% in individuals younger than 50 years to 55% in those aged 80 years or older. Women exhibited significantly greater lumbar lordosis, pelvic tilt, and pelvic-femoral angle in both postures than men (all P < 0.05); however, posture-related changes were largely comparable between sexes.
Conclusion:
Spinal and pelvic flexibility decreases progressively with age in community-dwelling adults, while reliance on hip flexion increases modestly. These population-based findings from the Wakayama Spine Study provide reference data for spinal-pelvic-hip biomechanics and support age-specific assessment of postural adaptability in practice.
