Background: Decreased intervertebral disc height can result in diminished load carrying capacity of the spinal segment. Clinical means of assessing postures able to rehydrate the discs were investigated.
Objective: The purposes of this study were 3-fold: (1) to determine if our test protocol using a commercially available stadiometer demonstrated findings consistent with prior laboratory-based protocols; (2) to determine if hyperextension in the prone position and trunk flexion in the supine position caused increased spine height after sustained loading; and (3) to compare the effects of hyperextension in the prone position and trunk flexion in the supine position on spine height changes after a period of sustained loading.