Clinical, physical, and radiographic analyses of lumbar degenerative kyphosis and spondylolisthesis among community-based cohort

Purpose To investigate longitudinal radiographic changes, and physical characteristics of lumbar degenerative kyphosis (LDK) and spondylolisthesis (DS). Methods Two-hundred eighty nine community-based female subjects were recruited from population register and studied longitudinally for a mean 12.3 years. Upright entire spine radiographs were used to evaluate spinopelvic parameters, including lumbar lordosis (LL), pelvic incidence (PI), and vertebral slip (% slip). Physical measurements included lumbar range of motion (ROM), isometric trunk muscle strength, and photometric gait posture using change in trunk inclination angle (dTIA). Results Subjects’ mean age (standard deviation: SD) was 56.9 (10.0) years at baseline and 68.5 (9.2) years at the final follow-up. Among 202 subjects who could perform instructed physical measurements, DS, defined as more than 5 % slip, was found in 50 subjects (24.8 %), and LDK, defined as LL of less than 1SD of mean value (