Segmentary mobility of the mobile lumbar spines upon a total of 90 cases was studied by means of the functional radiographic examination. Segmentary mobility was determined by Falconer method.
The cases were divided into four groups as Group I , 20 cases, who had no symptoms on low back, Group 11, 20 cases, who had herniated disc in L4-5 confirmed either by surgery or by myelography, Group 3, 30 cases, who had low back pain and neurological signs of L5 root irritation, and Group IV, 20 cases, who -had low back pain as well as neurological signs of S1 root irritation.
The result of the analysis was concluded as follows:
1. Total mobility of the lumbar spine in group I was significantly higher than other groups. Large normal variation in segmentary mobility of the lumbar spine was found, however, the mean angle of the segmentary mobility was highest in L4-5 and higher in the order of L5-S1, L4-3, L3-2 and L2-1.
2. Total mobility of the lumbar spine in group It was markedly reduced compared with group I , however, proportion of the segmentary mobility of L4-5 versus total mobility of the lumbar spine wass somewhat higher than that of group I .
3. Total mobility of the lumbar spine in group IQ was significantly reduced than group I and significantly higher than group 1. Proportion of the segmentary mobility of L4-5 versus total mobility of the lumbar spine in group 1Q was somewhat higher than group I and the same as group 1.
4. Total mobility of the lumbar spine in group IV was reduced than group I and group 11, and higher than group 11. Proportion of the segmentary mobility of L5-S1 was significantly higher than any other group.
5. In the groups with low back pain and herniated disc, in other words, there was found relatively increased segmentary mobility in the affected lumbar segments in contrast to reduced mobility of the total lumbar segments.
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