The Spineangel®: Examining the validity and reliability of a novel clinical device for monitoring trunk motion

Spinal loading in excessive and repeated trunk flexion may hinder recovery from acute low back pain. The Spineangel® device provides real-time patient biofeedback on trunk flexion and may facilitate recovery from lower back injury. This cross-sectional study evaluates validity and reliability of this device in the laboratory setting.

Participants included 18 healthy males. Angular displacements were simultaneously obtained from a Spineangel® device placed on the hip and criterion measures of hip, lumbar and total sagittal rotation, and pelvic tilt obtained via 3D Motion Analysis®. Each participant repeated four movements five times in a random order (forward bending fingertips-to-knees and to mid-lower leg, full flexion, and full extension).

Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for Spineangel® measurement of trunk motion were excellent (ICC>0.9). The coefficient of repeatability was less than 5.2° in both flexion and extension. Spineangel® showed the highest correlation with Motion Analysis® measurement of pelvic tilt with no statistical difference between measures when bending forward to fingertips-to-knees.

Given its high reliability, the Spineangel® device has potential as a trunk flexion biofeedback device. Further investigation is required to see if these laboratory results can be reproduced in the clinical setting and to determine the clinical benefits of such a device.