Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

What does a backrest actually do to the lumbar spine?

T Bendix1, V Poulsen, K Klausen

  • 1Copenhagen Back Center, National University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Ergonomics
|April 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

Backrests do not necessarily promote lumbar lordosis. This study found that while some backrests may increase spinal load, they can also stabilize the spine, potentially leading to increased kyphosis rather than lordosis.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Low back pain scores correlate with the cytokine mRNA level in lumbar disc biopsies: a study of inflammatory markers in patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion.

European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society·2021
Same author

Elective embryo transfers on Day 6 reduce implantation compared with transfers on Day 5.

Human reproduction (Oxford, England)·2017
Same author

Spontaneous movements with various seated-workplace adjustments.

Clinical biomechanics (Bristol, Avon)·2013
Same author

Posture, acceptability and energy consumption on a tiltable and a knee-support chair.

Clinical biomechanics (Bristol, Avon)·2013
Same author

The shape of the spine in young males with and without back complaints.

Clinical biomechanics (Bristol, Avon)·2013
Same author

Clinical assessment of prognostic factors for long-term pain and handicap after whiplash injury: a 1-year prospective study.

European journal of neurology·2008

Area of Science:

  • Ergonomics
  • Biomechanics
  • Spinal Health

Background:

  • The common belief is that backrests support lumbar lordosis.
  • This study investigates the actual effect of different backrests on spinal posture during sitting.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To challenge the traditional view of backrest function in promoting lordosis.
  • To analyze the impact of different backrest designs on spinal posture and load.

Main Methods:

  • 12 healthy subjects participated in 2-hour sitting sessions on three chair types: no backrest, vertical lumbar backrest, and anteriorly curved backrest.
  • Spontaneous postures were measured using a statometric method.
  • Spinal shrinkage was measured to assess spinal load.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Anteriorly curved backrests (C) induced the most lordotic postures, but also the greatest spinal load.
  • Vertical lumbar backrests (B) and anteriorly curved backrests (C) facilitated kyphosis, especially during passive sitting (reading).
  • Backrests may offer spinal stabilization, leading to relative kyphotic increases.

Conclusions:

  • The traditional concept that backrests facilitate lordosis is questioned.
  • Backrests may primarily provide stabilization, potentially increasing kyphosis.
  • Further research is needed to clarify the practical ergonomic applications of these findings.