CompuServe Messages

Alan ,things are going well thanks. The amount that the vertebrae is limited in motion is not necessarily age related in terms of the vertebrae themselves. Most of the time, barring severe arthritis, trauma, etc., the range of motion of the spine is limited by the surrounding soft tissues. As an example- stand erect with your feet together then flex at your waist keeping your knees locked in extension and touch your toes. The main limiting factor in the ability to touch your toes are tight hamstrings! not a tight vertebral column. So if you are modeling an animation of vertebral motion in the so called "vacuum" the motion of each vertebrae is essentially the same across all age levels until you start addressing degenerative changes. Sam