Effect of Wearing a Lumbosacral Corset on Spinal Curvature during Load Elevation Work

[Purpose] In this study, we investigated whether or not wearing a lumbosacral corset during load elevation suppressed increases in spinal curvature. [Subjects] The subjects were 14 healthy women with an average age of 20.1 ± 0.3 years. [Method] The positioning of the corset was from the costal arch to the iliac crest. Measurements were made while subjects looked straight ahead in a static standing posture with both feet set 10 cm apart. We measured thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis with both hands gripping a box containing 2-kg weights at upper limb elevation angles of 0, 90 and 120°, and compared the two angles of spinal curvature among the elevation positions. [Results] Lumbar lordosis showed a significantly large value at 120° of arm elevation. No significant differences were found for thoracic kyphosis. [Conclusion] We showed that by wearing the corset during load elevation work, increase in lumbar lordosis was suppressed at an arm elevation of 90°.