• M L Magnusson, A R Aleksiev, K F Spratt, R S Lakes, and M H Pope.
• Iowa Spine Research Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.
• Spine. 1996 Nov 15; 21 (22): 2670-5.

Study DesignThe effect on spine height changes from different combinations of time and angle of static prone hyperextension, and one intervention of dynamic hyperextension was explored.ObjectivesTo explore whether controlled hyperextension would cause an height increase with greater duration than previously shown, and to find an optimal combination of hyperextension angle and duration of the intervention.Summary Of Background DataHyperextension is aMethodsTen subjects were exposed to hyperextension in the prone position for different time periods and with different amounts of hyperextension. The effect was measured using the stadiometer for measurement of spine height changes.ResultsThe study showed that time was the most important variable, and also that for a given time, there was an increased recovery with increased angle.ConclusionsThe results indicate that hyperextension can be a beneficial maneuver to unload temporarily the spine after loading and to rehydrate the discs, providing enough time is given for the procedure. The optimal time and angle combination was 20 degrees for 20 minutes because this intervention resulted in the largest recovery that lasted for a relatively long period of time.

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