The Extremes of Spinal Motion: A Kinematic Study of a Contortionist in an Open-Configuration Magnetic Resonance Scanner

In Brief Study Design. Observational case study on a female contortionist. Objective. To investigate how the human spine of a young athlete aligns during extreme body contortions. Summary of Background Data. To our knowledge, there are no data available in the literature on the spinal kinematics under extreme body contortions. Methods. Conventional and kinematic magnetic resonance imaging was used to study a 22-year-old female Chinese contortionist. The images were analyzed with regard to abnormal segmental motion and degenerative alterations. Results. No abnormal segmental motion was observed. The patient had a normal spine beside a mild anterior displacement of L1 relative to L2, with mild disc degeneration and small anterior spondylosis. In addition, a mild disc degeneration was observed at T4/5. No other abnormal findings were diagnosed. Conclusions. The kinematic magnetic resonance investigation of the presented case did not reveal any evidence for abnormal segmental motion or subluxation in extreme body contortions and indicates that this excessive motion results from extreme spinal flexibility. Conventional and kinematic magnetic resonance imaging was used to examine a 22-year-old female contortionist in extreme body positions. The kinematic magnetic resonance investigation of the presented case did not reveal any evidence for abnormal segmental motion or subluxation in extreme body contortions and indicates that the exhibited excessive motion results from extreme spinal flexibility.