Wang K, et al. - Researchers gauged the biomechanical influence of anterior vertebral body osteophytes on the whole lumbar spine. Increased intersegmental rotation and maximum stress were demonstrated by segments adjacent to levels with anterior vertebral body osteophytes. The kinematics of these levels were altered by the lumbar levels with various degrees of osteophyte formation, which also affected the whole lumbar spine. In flexion and lateral bending, a trend towards increased range of motion was demonstrated by the segment that was one level inferior to the vertebra with osteophyte formation.