Trunk deformity evaluation based on 3D measurements of front body surface landmarks in people with severe physical disabilities.

Purpose: To assess reliability and validity of a trunk deformity evaluation method expressed as rotational and lateral lean angles between the upper and the lower trunk and between the lower trunk and the pelvis using 3D positions of six front body surface landmarks.

Methods: Inter- and intra-rater reliabilities of the proposed method in adults with typical development (n = 22) were assessed, and its validity was also assessed through correlations between the Cobb angle and the analyzed trunk deformity parameters in adults with severe physical disabilities (n = 22).

Results: The mean differences between two raters and between the initial and second measures were within 2°.