OBJECTIVES: To measure and compare the degree of thoracic kyphosis in older adult women with and without spinal osteoporosis, by means of computerized biophotogrammetry. METHODS: Twelve women of mean age 68.5 years (ranging from 65 to 74 years) were evaluated and divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of six women with a densitometry diagnosis of spinal osteoporosis (SD: -2.70 to -4.97), while Group 2 consisted of six women with a densitometry diagnosis of spinal osteopenia (SD: -1.07 to -2.09). These groups were compared with young adults. The two groups were photographed in the right sagittal plane with markers attached to the spine at two anatomical points. The images selected were quantified by means of computerized biophotogrammetry, using the software AutoCAD-2006. RESULTS: There was a significant difference (p=0.02) between the degrees of thoracic kyphosis in group 1 (66.8º±10.75) and group 2 (53.0º±10.56). CONCLUSION: The results showed that osteoporosis increased the degree of thoracic kyphosis.
osteoporosis; kyphosis; photogrammetry
