Investigation to analyse the correlation between ‘human plumbline distance’, ‘formetric plumbline distance’ and ‘inclinometry’ in a clinical setting: a pilot correlational study

Methods 27 consecutive female AIS patients aged 11-18 were measured prior to commencement of ScolioGold physiotherapy treatment with HPD, FPD and Inclinometry with measures repeated on completion of treatment. All measures were taken by one therapist (JM). FPD data considered was Cervical Apex (CA), Vertebral Prominence (VP), Lordotic Apex (LA) and Dimple Middle (DM). Correlation was studied between singular measures of HPD vs. FPD, between predicted Kyphosis (C7+L3 vs VP+LA) and between both HPD and FPD vs. Inclinometry (C7+L3 or VP+LA vs Angle A+B). Results An initial analysis for normality (‘Shapiro-Wilk’ and ‘Skew and Kurtosis’) showed normal distributions in all variables except VP as measured by FPD and S1 as measured by HPD. Thus Pearson’s correlation was used in all cases except C7 vs. VP and S1 vs DM which utilised Spearman’s Correlation. A strong positive correlation was shown between measures of HPD and FPD (Cervical vs. CA [r=0.574], C7 vs. VP [r=0.542], L3 vs. LA [r=0.683], S1 vs. DM [r=0.570]). A very strong correlation was demonstrated between kyphosis predictors in HPD and FPD (C7+L3 vs. VP+LA [r=0.782]). Similarly, Inclinometry showed a strong correlation with kyphosis predictors in both HPD and FPD (A +B vs. C7+L3 [r=0.563] or VP+LA [r=628]). Investigative analysis of data demonstrated pre-treatment Inclinometer Kyphosis (A+B) as 24 degrees (SD 7.96) and FPD (VP+LA) as 50.77mm (SD 19.04).