Clin Orthop Surg.  2018 Sep;10(3):322-327. 10.4055/cios.2018.10.3.322.

Spinopelvic Orientation on Radiographs in Various Body Postures: Upright Standing, Chair Sitting, Japanese Style Kneel Sitting, and Korean Style Cross-Legged Sitting

• Moon MS
• Lee H
• Kim ST
• Kim SJ
• Kim MS
• Kim DS

• KMID: 2418752
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/cios.2018.10.3.322

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Several previous studies reported on the impact of upright standing and chair sitting on the sagittal spinopelvic alignment. However, there are no studies on the impact of the two Asian (Korean and Japanese) style floor-sitting positions on the sagittal spinopelvic alignment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of four different body postures (standing, chair sitting, kneel sitting, and cross-legged sitting) on the sagittal spinopelvic alignment.
METHODS
Sixteen selected healthy volunteers (10 males and six females) were subjects of this pilot study. In all subjects, radiographs were taken in comfortable standing and sitting positions. All spinal curvatures including lumbar lordotic angle (LLA), sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt (PT), and pelvic incidence (PI) were measured on the radiographs.
RESULTS
In standing position, the average LLA, SS, PT, and PI were 37.1°, 35.3°, 15.7°, and 51.0°, respectively. In chair sitting, the average LLA, SS, PT, and PI were 17.9°, 20.3°, 28.2°, and 49.5°, respectively. In kneel sitting (Japanese style), the average LLA, SS, PT, and PI were 31.8°, 38.3°, 14.2°, and 52.5°, respectively. In cross-legged sitting (Korean style), the average LLA, SS, PT, and PI were 9.8°, 13.4°, 38.3°, and 51.7°, respectively. LLA in standing (37.1°) and kneel sitting (31.8°) were very similar. Remarkable reduction in LLA was observed in Korean-style cross-legged sitting (9.8°), and LLA in chair sitting (17.9°) was about half of that in standing. SS was similar in standing (35.3°) and kneel sitting (38.3°), and it was reduced remarkably in cross-legged sitting (13.4°). PT was largest in cross-legged sitting (38.3°), and it was similar between standing (15.7°) and kneel sitting (14.2°). PIs were similar in all positions.
CONCLUSIONS
The kneel sitting position did not show significant differences with the standing position when assessed using four parameters related to the sagittal spinopelvic alignment, whereas chair sitting and cross-legged sitting positions significantly altered the spinopelvic alignment compared to the standing position.

Keyword

Pelvic incidence; Lumbar lordosis; Sacral slope; Pelvic tilt; Position

MeSH Terms

Asian Continental Ancestry Group*
Healthy Volunteers
Humans
Incidence
Male
Pilot Projects
Posture*
Spinal Curvatures

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 (A) Standing position in frontal and lateral photographs. (B) Chair sitting position in frontal and lateral photographs. (C) Japanese style kneel sitting position in frontal and lateral photographs. (D) Korean style cross-legged sitting position in frontal and lateral photographs.

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  Fig. 2 (A) Lateral radiograph in standing. (B) Lateral radiograph in chair sitting. (C) Lateral radiograph in kneel sitting. (D) Lateral radiograph in crosslegged sitting. LLA: lumbar lordotic angle, SS: sacral slope, PT: pelvic tilt.

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