Range of the Motion (ROM) of the Cervical, Thoracic and Lumbar Spine in the Traditional Anatomical Planes

By Janis Savlovskis, MD

This section demonstrates the evidence behind the choice of the specific value of rotatory motion for different parts of the spine around the anatomical axes (sagittal, frontal and longitudinal). The evidence comes from the in vivo studies of healthy young males.

The literature meta-analysis is presented in the form of graphs that were composed following the uniform logic:

The range of motion implemented in the Anatomy Standard spine model in all traditional planes generally lies within limits between the weighted mean and upper double pooled standard deviation limit (2SD) derived from the in vivo studies. This range approximately corresponds to the part of the population with the average and above the spine's average flexibility, without exceeding the 95 percentile limit.

ROM control implemented in the application
"Biomechanics of the Spine"

Spine and statures. Straight, neutral and curved spine with reference for the application: The Biomechanics of the Spine

The image above demonstrates the screenshots from the application made with variable adjustments of flexion & extension tuned for different parts of the spine. Choose and click the type of curvature (Straightened, Neutral, or Curved) and see the effect. Note that the resulting stature combines differently directed segmental deformations of the spine within the physiological range. Demonstrated motions occur in the sagittal plane only – this is why other sliders controlling the Left / Right side bending & Clockwise / Counter Clockwise axial rotation remains in place.

Scientific Evidence for the
ROM of the Cervical Part of the Spine

Flexion of the Cervical Spine

Range of motion of the cervical spine from the neutral to the maximum flexion — The lateral view of the neutral and fully flexed cervical spine (64° of C0-C7 flexion)

Extension of the Cervical Spine

Range of motion of the cervical spine from the neutral to the maximum extension — The lateral view of the neutral and fully extended cervical spine (63° of C0-C7 extension)

Flexion + Extension of the Cervical Spine

Range of motion of the cervical spine from the maximum flexion to the maximum extension — Side-by-side lateral view of the cervical spine motion in sagittal plane – from the full extension to the full flexion (127° of C0-C7 motion)

Range of motion of the cervical spine in sagittal plane — Side-by-side lateral view of the cervical spine motion in sagittal plane – from the full extension to the full flexion (127° of C0-C7 motion)

Lateral Bending of the Cervical Spine

Range of motion of the cervical spine in the frontal plane – from the neutral cervical spine to the maximum right and left lateral flexion — Side-by-side anterior view of the cervical spine motion in the frontal plane – from the neutral spine to the right and to the left (C0-C7 one side lateral bending 49°). Note the remarkable axial rotation motion coupled with the lateral bending of the cervical spine.

Scientific evidence for the range of lateral bending motion of cervical spine — Scientific evidence for the 49° of cervical lateral flexion motion range.

Axial Rotation of the Cervical Spine

Scientific evidence for the range of axial rotation of cervical spine — Scientific evidence for the 85° of cervical axial rotation range.

ROM of the Thoracic Part of the Spine

Flexion of the Thoracic Spine

Range of motion of the thoracic spine from the neutral to the maximum flexion — Side-by-side lateral view of the thoracic spine motion in the sagittal plane – from the neutral spine to the full flexion by 26°.

Extension of the Thoracic Spine

Range of motion of the thoracic spine froom neutral to the maximum extension — Side-by-side lateral view of the neutral and fully extended thoracic spine by 22°.

Flexion – Extension ROM of the Thoracic Spine

Range of motion of the thoracic spine from the maximum flexion to the maximum extension — Side-by-side lateral view of the thoracic spine motion in the sagittal plane – from the neutral spine to the full flexion by 48°.

Range of motion of thoracic spine in the sagittal plane, from flexion to extension — Side-by-side lateral view of the thoracic spine motion in the sagittal plane – from the neutral spine to the full flexion by 48°.

Lateral Bending of the Thoracic Spine

The lateral bending of the thoraic spine — Side-by-side view of the neutral thoracic spine and left / right lateral bending by 30°

Scientific evidence for the range of lateral bending motion of thoracic spine — Scientific evidence for the 30° of lateral bending of the thoracic spine.

Axial Rotation of the Thoracic Spine

Scientific evidence for the range of axial rotation of thoracic spine — Scientific evidence for the 47° of axial rotation of the thoracic spine.

ROM of the Lumbar Part of the Spine

Flexion of the Lumbar Spine

Range of motion of the lumbar spine from the neutral to the maximum flexion — The neutral spine and full flexion of the lumbar spine by 65°.

Range of motion of the lumbar spine in the sagittal plane, from neutral to the maximum flexion — The neutral spine and full flexion of the lumbar spine by 65°.

Extension of the Lumbar Spine

Range of motion of the cervical spine from the neutral to the maximum extebnsion — Side-by-side lateral view of the lumbar spine motion in the sagittal plane – from the neutral spine to the maximum extension by 31°.

Range of motion of thoracic spine in the sagittal plane, from neutral to the maximum extension — Side-by-side lateral view of the lumbar spine motion in the sagittal plane – from the neutral spine to the maximum extension by 31°.

Flexion + Extension of the Lumbar Spine

Range of motion of the cervical spine in the sagittal plane – from maximum flexion to the maximum extension — The ROM of lumbar spine from the full flexion to the full extension by 96°.

Range of motion of thoracic spine in the sagittal plane, from the maximum flexion to the maximum extension — The ROM of lumbar spine from the full flexion to the full extension by 96°.

Lateral bending of the Lumbar Spine

Range of the lateral flexion of the lumbar spine — Side-by-side view of the neutral lumbar spine and left / right lateral bending by 30°

Lateral flexion of the lumbar spine — Side-by-side view of the neutral lumbar spine and left / right lateral bending by 30°

Scientific evidence for the range of lateral flexion of lumbar spine — Scientific evidence for the 30° of lateral bending of the lumbar spine.

Axial Rotation of the Lumbar Spine

Scientific evidence for the range of axial rotation of lumbar spine — Scientific evidence for the axial rotation of the lumbar spine by 15.3°.

ROM of the Entire Spine in Different Planes

Flexion & Extension

Lateral Bending

Axial Rotation

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