The torque of posterior teeth is of great importance in esthetics and occlusion. In the present article, we introduce a simple but useful device to measure intermolar torque. The device consists of two movable and adjustable arms that lie on the selected molar teeth bilaterally,the graduated plane at the body of the appliance then shows the intermolar torque. This device can measure intermolar torque easily and rapidly, with high validity and at a low cost.

Objective: Accurate measurement of thoracic kyphosis has a great value for both evaluating patients and monitoring the effect of different treatments. Dual Digital Inclinometer (DDI) has been introduced as a non-invasive devise that can measure the kyphosis angle. However, according to available information, there is only one published study regarding the estimation of validity and repeatability of this device in our country. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the validity and repeatability of the thoracic kyphosis angle measurement using DDI in women over 45 years.Materials and Methods: In this methodological study, thoracic kyphosis was measured by DDI device three times on 20 women aged 45-70 years. The first two measurements were taken with an hour apart in same day to assess the repeatability within-day and the third measurement was taken one day later to assess the between-days repeatability. Furthermore, the value of kyphosis angle was measured by calculating Cobb angle on radiological films with an examiner and the validity of obtained angle was studied by DDI ICC correlation coefficient test with 95% confidence intervals for data analysis.Results: The validity of values obtained by DDI compared to the Cobb angle was high (ICC=0.86). This revealed that the DDI was reasonably valid for women over 45 years. Within-day and between-days thoracic kyphosis measurements using DDI were shown to be reliable with high ICC values. (0.95 for within-day and 0.93 for between days).Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study, the DDI is a valid and reliable tool for non-invasive measurement of thoracic kyphosis.

Purpose: Regarding the high prevalence of low back pain in various communities and the need to determine an appropriate treatment plan for these patients, examining their functional limitation and disability level is of utmost importance. In this regard, one of the important indicators is Lumbar range of motion. Measurement of the range of motion is a common and appropriate method for determining the functional limitation of the spine and also to examine the effectiveness of various therapeutic interventions. This study was conducted with the purpose of examining the reliability of measuring lumbar range of motion using bubble inclinometer and tape measure.Methods: This methodological study was performed on 20 healthy males (29–52 years old) and 13 male patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (30–58 years old) in 2015. The ranges of lumbar forward and backward and side bending were measured with bubble inclinometer and rotation with tape measure for both groups. Two measurements were conducted in one day with an interval of one hour to examine the within day reliability, and a third measurement was conducted one week later to examine the between days reliability. Statistical inference was made through calculation of intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and standard error of measurement (SEM). All data analysis was done by SPSS version 18.Results: The ICC and SEM values related to the within days and between days reliability were acceptable. The within day and between days ICC range were 0.770–0.982 and 0.835–0.977, respectively. SEM range was 0.38–1.20. However, the results of the reliability values of between days measuring of extension in prone position, by using bubble inclinometer, in patients with slight low back pain were low (ICC=0.177 and SEM=5.35).Conclusion: Results of the present study showed that measuring the lumbar range of motion with bubble inclinometer and tape measure (except measuring extension in prone position by using bubble inclinometer in patients with low back pain) was highly reliable. Therefore, these 2 non-invasive and reliable tools can be used to measure the lumbar range of motion and also to follow-up the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.

Objective: Increase in the normal sagittal curvature (hyper kyphosis) may occur in individuals after skeletal maturity due to the poor postural habits and muscular weaknesses. Failure of changing these postural habits or strengthening the postural muscles may lead to deformities that cause pain and discomfort.The current study aims at determining the effect of a novel mechanical reminder “Kypho-remainder Orthosis” on the intensity of the curvature in individuals with postural hyper-kyphosis.Materials & Methods: Fifteen adult participants (9 female, mean age: 26.44 years; 6 male, mean age: 25.66 years) whose X-rays reported over 45 degrees of kyphosis were included in the trial. After the initial evaluations and assessments, each individual was asked to wear the kypho-remainder 8 hours a day for 6 weeks. The kyphosis curvature was measured before and after the trial period by the inclinometer.The quality of life of the participants was evaluated by SF-36 questionnaire.Results: The study represented that wearing the orthosis had a significant effect on the angle of hyperkyphosis curve index (P=0.000) and the quality of life (P=0.028) of the participants. Age, gender, occupation, and BMI variables did not have any impact on the effectiveness of orthosis in decreasing the hyper-kyphosis curvature.Conclusion: Considering the importance of maintaining a proper posture to optimize the muscles activity in preventing deformity and orthosis with a bio-feedback mechanism may be the solution. The longterm effect of using a bio-feedback orthosis indicated that kypho-remainder orthosis can significantly improve the kyphosis curve in individuals with postural hyper-kyphosis.

Positioning on Earth has consistently been a crucial and complex challenge. Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) serve as essential tools for determining the position of moving platforms but face two primary limitations: the accumulation of navigation errors over time and the dependence on accurate initial conditions. While GNSS satellites have revolutionized positioning on and near Earth, their effectiveness diminishes with distance from the planet, necessitating alternative methods. In such cases, celestial observation and star-based positioning become vital solutions. Star trackers—high-precision sensors capable of identifying and locating celestial star patterns—play a pivotal role in this context. When integrated with inclinometers and chronometers, they form a positioning system capable of calculating geographic latitude and longitude through sensor data processing. This study investigates the underlying mathematics of this approach, models various error sources (including star tracker accuracy, inclinometer and chronometer precision, sensor alignment, and gravitational modeling), and analytically evaluates their impact on positioning accuracy. The findings provide valuable insights for optimizing system configurations and error budgeting in the design of advanced positioning systems

Background and Aim: Research show extensive physiological and postural changes in pregnancy, particularly during the first pregnancy. These changes are in sense of balance, neurological and mechanical forms. The precise changes in postures of each parts of the body in primigravida women are still ambiguous. The current study aims to find out spinal and pelvic changes in these women in static standing.Materials and Methods: The lumbar and thoracic curves and pelvic inclination angles of thirty primigravida women (age 25±1, BMI 23±1) in the first, second and third trimesters (Weeks 10, 21 and 32 of pregnancy) were recruited in this cohort study and were compared with 18 age-BMI matched non- pregnant women (age 24±1, BMI 23±1) in a static standing posture. The curvatures were measured with use of a flexible ruler and the pelvic inclination angle was measured by a pelvic inclinometer device. Before starting the main study, the reliability and repeatability of the flexible ruler and pelvic inclinometer were confirmed in this study (ICC>0.87).Results: An increased curvature and inclination angles were shown simultaneously while pregnancy progresses. The results showed a significant increased lumbar and thoracic curvature angles in pregnant group only during the first and second trimesters (P<0.05). However, pelvic inclination angles significantly increased during all trimesters of the pregnancy (P<0.05).Conclusion: The present study showed significant increases in both lumbar and thoracic curves (Sway back) and an increased pelvic tilt during pregnancy period. The results might help clinicians for prescribing suitable exercises during pregnancy and after the delivery. More research is recommended in this area.

Introduction: A few instruments are accessible for clinical estimation of the thoracic and lumbar curvatures. This methodical survey aims to identify the validity and reliability of noninvasive thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis measurements. Materials and Methods: This research is a literature review. The process was performed on articles in credible databases, such as Medline, Embase, AMED, CINAHL, PubMed, and Biomedical Reference Collection, Expanded, Sport Discus, Science Direct, Web of Science, searching for the terms thoracic kyphosis, lordosis, spinal curvature, lordosis and reliability, lordosis and validity, kyphosis and reliability, kyphosis and validity, test, measure, flexi curve, radiograph, spinal mouse, inclinometer, kyphometer, image processing, Cobb, during 1960 to 2020. Results: The result of the systematic search revealed that ten methods among all related papers have inclusion criteria, 3D ultrasound, Arco meter, DE Brunner’, s kyphometer, digital inclinometer, electro goniometer, goniometer, flexi curve angle, image processing, pantograph, and spinal mouse. Conclusion: The validity and reliability of non-invasive methods for estimating kyphosis and lordosis curvatures were indicated in 26 papers. Based on the current little evidence, noninvasive procedures have high to very high reliability and moderate to high validity.

Introduction: Low-level laser is a pain-free and non-invasive treatment modality. It is used in many acute and chronic painful conditions. This study aimed to determine the correlation between pain intensity, functional disability, and range of motion using low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in patients with discogenic lumbar radiculopathy. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted as a part of a randomized controlled trial of LLLT to treat patients with discogenic lumbar radiculopathy in physical therapy departments of three different hospitals in Islamabad, Pakistan, from August 2021 to September 2021. The study was conducted according to STROBE guidelines. Fifty-Five patients from the experimental group of the trial were invited to participate in this study. The outcomes of the treatment were recorded on a semi-structured questionnaire on the first day and last day of their treatment from each patient’, s pain intensity, functional disability, and Lumbar range of motion (L-ROM) (flexion and extension) by using the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain intensity, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) for functional disability, and dual inclinometer for L-ROM. The data were analyzed through SPSS version 26. 0. Results: The results of the correlation coefficient/Pearson’, s correlation of VAS, ODI, and dual inclinometer were varied. The strength of correlation between variables was weak to moderate (r = 0. 033 to 0. 425) with statistically insignificant correlation coefficient (P > 0. 05, 95% CI) except for lumbar flexion (P < 0. 05, 95% CI). Conclusion: For acute low back pain (LBP) with discogenic lumbar radiculopathy, LLLT at a wavelength of 830-nm and a dose of 3 J/point in conjunction with conventional physical therapy had no significant correlation, but rather weak to moderate values with pain intensity, functional disability, and L-ROM.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine difference of lordosis and pelvic inclination in healthy subjects and patients with CLBP. Materials and methods: 25 normal and 25 patients with CLBP (with least 6 months past history of mechanical low back pain) lumbar lordosis and pelvic inclination was measured with flexible ruler and pelvic inclinometer respectively. Results: There was not significant difference between lumbar lordosis and pelvic inclination in both normal and patient groups. Conclusion: Changes of lumbar lordosis and pelvic inclination during loading and unloading are more important than absolute amount of lumbar lordosis and pelvic inclination.