Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for assessing the condition of the lumbar spine of a patient. The apparatus comprises a pelvis restraint for holding the patient's pelvis fixed, a harness adapted to be secured in a fixed orientation to the patient above the lumbar spine, the harness being connected to the pelvis restraint and movable relative thereto and the harness being spring biased to a neutral position and rotatable therefrom in a first or second rotational direction against the spring biasing, and, a torque measurement device associated with the harness for measuring torque generated by the patient who twists his back in the first rotational direction and in the second rotational direction.

Abstract: A lumbar spinal brace comprises a belt adaptable to be wrapped into a generally round shape having left and right hand halves and a central axis dividing said halves, a first bracing structure extending from the belt, a contact point defined by the first bracing structure, said contact point being disposed upwardly and laterally from the central axis, the first bracing structure being resistant to rearward movement of the contact point, and, said first bracing structure comprising a support member extending from the belt and having an upper portion defining the contact point, and, a movement limiting structure connected to the support member and the belt for resisting rearward movement of the contact point.