What is the normal range for lumbar lordosis?

What is the normal range for lumbar lordosis?

• A. 40-60 degrees
• B. 20-40 degrees
• C. Less than 20 degrees
• D. 60-80 degrees

Answer: (A)

Lumbar lordosis is the inward curve of the lower spine in the sagittal plane. In a healthy adult, the normal range is about 40 to 60 degrees on a lateral lumbar radiograph, often measured as the Cobb angle from L1 to S1. This range supports balanced posture and proper load distribution through the lower back, though exact numbers can vary with imaging method and individual anatomy. Values below 40 degrees indicate hypolordosis, a flatter curve that can relate to back issues; values above 60 degrees indicate hyperlordosis, an exaggerated curve that can contribute to strain. The other options lie outside this typical range: less than 20 degrees is too flattened, 20–40 degrees is lower than normal, and 60–80 degrees is generally considered excessively curved.

Lumbar lordosis is the inward curve of the lower spine in the sagittal plane. In a healthy adult, the normal range is about 40 to 60 degrees on a lateral lumbar radiograph, often measured as the Cobb angle from L1 to S1. This range supports balanced posture and proper load distribution through the lower back, though exact numbers can vary with imaging method and individual anatomy. Values below 40 degrees indicate hypolordosis, a flatter curve that can relate to back issues; values above 60 degrees indicate hyperlordosis, an exaggerated curve that can contribute to strain. The other options lie outside this typical range: less than 20 degrees is too flattened, 20–40 degrees is lower than normal, and 60–80 degrees is generally considered excessively curved.