Validity and Reliability of Non-Invasive methods for evaluating kyphosis and lordosis curvatures: A literature review

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: There are a few instruments accessible for clinical estimation of the thoracic and lumbar curvatures. The aim of this methodical survey is to identify the validity and reliability of non-invasive thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis measurements. Materials and Methods: This research is a literature review. The process was performed on articles in credible databases such as MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED, CINAHL, PubMed and Biomedical Reference Collection: Expanded, Sport Discus, Science Direct, Web of Science, searching for the terms thoracic kyphosis, lordosis, spinal curvature, lordosis and reliability, lordosis and validity, kyphosis and reliability, kyphosis and validity, test, measure, flexi curve, radiograph, spinal mouse, inclinometer, kyphometer, image processing, Cobb, during 1960 to 2020. Results: The result of the systematic search revealed that ten methods among all related papers have inclusion criteria: 3DUltrasound, Arco meter, DE Brunner’s kyphometer, Digital inclinometer, Electro goniometer, goniometer, Flexi curve angle, Image processing, Pantograph and Spinal Mouse. Conclusion: Validity and reliability of non-invasive methods for estimating kyphosis and lordosis curvatures was indicated within 26 papers. Based on the current little evidence, noninvasive procedures have high to very high reliability and moderate to high validity