Thoracic and lumbar spinal curvatures in Nigerian adults

The thoracic and lumbar curvatures of 105 Nigerian adults have been measured with a flexible rule (flexicurve). The lumbar curvature is relatively greater in women. Compared with a previous survey of Europeans, the curvatures in both men and women appear to be about 20 per cent greater in Nigerians. This is likely to be a genetic difference but the Nigerian practice of carrying heavy loads on the head may be a contributory factor.