Movements of the Lumbar Spine

Question 1

What are the movements of the lumbar spine?

Answer 1

flexion
extension
rotation
side/lateral flexion

Question 2

Where does flexion occur?

Answer 2

50-60 degrees

L4/5 and L5/S1

Question 3

Where does extension occur?

Answer 3

30 dregrees

Question 4

Where does rotation occur?

Answer 4

8-12 degrees in each direction
at each segmental area
less rotation at L5/S1
limitd by the orientaion of the facet joints

Question 5

Where does side/lateral flexion occur?

Answer 5

25 degrees

Question 6

What affects the lumbar spine range of motion?

Answer 6

age
pathophysiology
females tend to have a >RoM than men
sitting < standing 
Prone: extension > standing

Question 7

What are the ligaments of the lumbar spine?

Answer 7

anterior longitudinal ligament
posterior longitudinal ligament
ligament flavum

Question 8

Anterior longitudinal ligament

Answer 8

occipital bone
sacrum
resists vertical separation of vertebrae and limits extension
anterior aspect of the vertebrae

Question 9

Posterior longitudinal ligament

Answer 9

resists vertical separation of the posterior aspects of the body
lies in the vertebral canal

Question 10

What are the joints?

Answer 10

Facet joints
zygapophyseal joints
lumbosacral joint

Question 11

facet joints

Answer 11

plane is vertical inwards, synovial plane joint

Question 12

Functions of the abdominals

Answer 12

trunk movement
sitting from lying and getting out of bed
coughing
abdominal pressure for force expiration 
spinal stabilisation

Question 13

lumbosacral joint

Answer 13

disc between the lower lumbar body and uppermost sacral vertebral body

Question 14

Function of the lumbar region

Answer 14

support for abdomen

Question 15

Function of sacral region

Answer 15

transmits weight to lower limbs through pelvic bones

framework for posterior aspect of pelvis