What is the normal ROM for lumbar spine lateral flexion?

What is the normal ROM for lumbar spine lateral flexion?

• A. 0-0 to 5°.
• B. 0-15 to 0-20°, measure fingertip distance to floor.
• C. 0-5 to 0-10°.
• D. 0-25 to 0-30°.

Answer: (B)

Normal lumbar spine lateral flexion is about 15–20 degrees on each side. Clinically, this is often estimated by how far the fingertips reach toward the floor when the person bends to the side—the fingertip-to-floor distance gives a practical sense of that 15–20 degree range in the lumbar region. The other choices either imply too little motion (0–5° or 0–10°) or too much motion for the lumbar spine alone (25–30°), which would suggest more motion from the thoracic region or the whole spine. So, 15–20 degrees with fingertip distance to the floor is the best match for normal lumbar lateral flexion.

Normal lumbar spine lateral flexion is about 15–20 degrees on each side. Clinically, this is often estimated by how far the fingertips reach toward the floor when the person bends to the side—the fingertip-to-floor distance gives a practical sense of that 15–20 degree range in the lumbar region. The other choices either imply too little motion (0–5° or 0–10°) or too much motion for the lumbar spine alone (25–30°), which would suggest more motion from the thoracic region or the whole spine. So, 15–20 degrees with fingertip distance to the floor is the best match for normal lumbar lateral flexion.