Mayo Clinic Proceedings
October 1996 Volume 71, Number 10
Sinaki M, Wollan PC, Scott RW, Gelczer RK
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA
Study Outcomes & Clinical Relevance: Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant negative correlation between the strength of the back extensor muscles and thoracic kyphosis. Significant negative correlations were also found between back extensor strength and the number of vertebral compression fractures and between bone mineral density and the number of vertebral fractures. The negative association between back extensor strength and both kyphosis and number of vertebral fractures suggests that increasing back strength may prove to be an effective therapeutic intervention for the osteoporotic spine. In persons with stronger back muscles, the risk of vertebral fractures will likely decrease.