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A normal sagittal spinal configuration: a desirable clinical outcome
D D Harrison1, S J Troyanovich, D E Harrison
1Life College of Chiropractic-West, San Lorenzo, California, USA.
Summary
Chiropractic care aims to restore normal spinal alignment. This review found that a typical cervical spine configuration is a lordosis between 16.5-66 degrees, supported by mechanical and anatomical evidence.
Area of Science:
- Chiropractic research
- Spinal biomechanics
- Anatomical studies
Background:
- Traditional chiropractic methods focus on vertebral alignment.
- Limited scientific literature supports this approach.
- This review examines the evidence for chiropractic's alignment-based rationale.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the rationale behind traditional chiropractic alignment methods.
- To evaluate mechanical, anatomical, and physiological evidence supporting spinal alignment.
- To determine the scientific basis for chiropractic's focus on "normal" spinal positions.
Main Methods:
- Review of articles on stress and strain in spinal tissues.
- Analysis of gravitational loading and experimental deformation studies (human and animal models).
- Examination of radiographic studies classifying sagittal plane spinal configuration.
Main Results:
- The typical cervical spine configuration in the sagittal dimension is a lordosis.
- This lordosis ranges from 16.5 to 66 degrees, measured between C2 and C7.
- Evidence from stress/strain analysis and population studies supports this normal range.
Conclusions:
- Normative data for cervical spine configuration are established.
- These data can serve as a benchmark for assessing structural health.
- This provides a logical basis for evaluating chiropractic intervention outcomes.