Sagittal spinal alignment

Normal sagittal alignment is as follows:

• 15° Cervical lordosis (C2–C7)
• 40° Thoracic kyphosis (T1–T12)
• 0° Thoracolumbar junction (T11–L1)
• 60° Lumbar lordosis (T12–S1)

Normally lumbar lordosis is 20° greater than the thoracic kyphosis.

If there is a mismatch in spinal alignment the spine will be at a higher risk of imbalance.

The majority of the lumbar lordosis can be found in the two lowest levels:

• L4–L5 20° of lordosis (representing 28% of total lumbar lordosis)
• L5–S1 28° of lordosis (representing 39% of total lumbar lordosis)
• A total of 48° representing 67% of the total lumbar lordosis