Mangalore: Now, 3D Spinal and Postural Analysis at Father Muller Hospital

Media Release

Mangalore, Jan 28: Father Muller Medical College Hospital is now equipped with 3D Spinal and Postural Analysis (Raster Stereography).

Posture of a human speaks volumes of one's mind and possibly health. In today's world where external presentation of oneself has taken precedence, posture or body image is given a lot of importance not only cosmetically but also conveys the confidence of a person. The spine or vertebral column which forms an integral part of body easily deviates from the normal due to disease or badly acquired body position and can be successfully analysed via the technique of Stereography. Raster Stereography has been used since late 1990’s for this purpose and has volumes of research information in analysing posture.

It is an optical imaging procedure developed in Germany at the University of Münster from a technique originally designed for use in the space industry to measure and analyze surface contours with an extremely high degree of precision. The three-dimensional spinal analysis produces an exact stereographic image of the contour of your spine and back. The procedure is painless and involves no radiation exposure. The system automatically detects specific anatomical land marks and gives an automatic reconstruction of 3D vertebral spine model for analysis.

Raster stereography is contactless, radiation-free and non-intrusive and allows the clinicians to perform multiple scans of each patient – eg, before and immediately after an adjustment – and a typical report will offer the capability to  compare four sets of results taken at different dates.

This technology will be used for early diagnosis, analysis and follow-up in the following conditions:

• Spinal deformities and Postural changes

• Low back ache

• Osteoporosis

 • Balance problems

 • Temporomandibular joint disorders

Foot deformities

This is first of its kind postural analysis machine in this part of the world. Clinicians can make use of this facility by referring their patients for analysis and a detailed report will be made available to them.

Presently this equipment is installed in the outpatient department of Physiotherapy, Father Muller Medical College Hospital.