Table 3.

Shortest distance between processes in normal subjects, DDD, and DLS patients

	L2–L3	L3–L4	L4–L5
Supine
Normal	8.5 ± 3.1	7.5 ± 3.0	5.6 ± 3.0
DDD	7.6 ± 2.0	7.3 ± 2.5	5.5 ± 2.1
DLS	6.3 ± 2.0	5.2 ± 1.5	3.5 ± 1.0*,#
Standing
Normal	4.9 ± 4.0	4.3 ± 3.9	4.8 ± 3.2
DDD	4.3 ± 1.9	3.7 ± 1.6	3.3 ± 1.4
DLS	4.1 ± 2.2	3.6 ± 1.1	3.0 ± 0.9
Extension
Normal	3.5 ± 1.8	4.2 ± 1.9	4.1 ± 4.7
DDD	4.0 ± 1.7	3.6 ± 1.7	3.2 ± 1.5
DLS	3.8 ± 2.9	3.5 ± 1.5	2.9 ± 1.5
Flexion
Normal	8.1 ± 5.4	8.3 ± 6.1	6.4 ± 4.5
DDD	7.8 ± 3.3	8.5 ± 2.7	8.0 ± 3.1
DLS	6.0 ± 2.4	6.5 ± 3.7	5.0 ± 2.0*

The values were presented as mean (SD) in millimeter

* <0.05 when compared with DDD patients, ^# <0.05 compared with normal subject at the same level and position