Comparison of Lumbar Lordosis according to Heel Height in Normal Adults and Patients with Spondylolisthesis

Lee, Kyu Hoon; Kim, Yong Geol; Hwang, Chi Moon; Kim, Sung Soo; Choi, Hyun Jin; Kim, Hee Sang; Ahn, Kyung Hoi

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate how to influence static lumbar lordosis by different heel heights in normal adults and patients with spondylolisthesis. METHOD: The lumbolumbar angles, lumbosacral angles and slip angles were examined while standing on barefoot, on heel support with 5 cm heel, and with 10 cm heel in 14 normal adults and 10 patients with first grade of spondylolisthesis. Standing lumbar spine lateral view was performed by one half hour adaptation with corresponding shoe types. RESULT: The lumbolumbar angles (angles between upper margin of 2nd lumbar body and low margin of 5th lumbar body) and the lumbosacral angles (between upper margin of 2nd lumbar body and low margin of 1st sacral body) in normal are 36.8+/-6.5degrees, 50.1+/-9.5degrees on barefoot, 36.0+/-7.3degrees, 49.6+/-7.4degrees on heel support with 5 cm heel, and 36.1+/-7.6degrees, 49.7+/-8.3degrees with 10 cm heel. Lumbolumbar angles and lumbosacral angles in 10 patients with spondylolisthesis 38.8 8.3degrees on barefoot, 47.2+/-10.4degrees on heel support with 5 cm heel, 38.3+/-7.0degrees, 47.7+/-9.2degrees with 10 cm heel. The slip angles in 10 patients with spondylolisthesis are 29.8+/-1.2degrees on barefoot, 30.2+/-1.8degrees on heel support with 5 cm heel, and with 10 cm heel.
CONCLUSION
The changes of heel height did not significantly influence the lumbar lordosis in normal adults and patients with spondylolisthesis. There were no significant differences in average slip angle according to heel height in patients with spondylolisthesis were found.