The aim of this project was to develop robust interactive computer methods for measuring the shape and movement of the lumbar spine vertebrae from lateral radiographs of the spine. In order to achieve this aim, two software packages were written - the Aberdeen Vertebral Morphometry System (AVMS) and the Aberdeen Spinal Videofluoroscopy System (ASVS). AVMS was designed to analyse static images from dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) imaging densitometers. Comparative precision tests of the ability of AVMS software and Lunar EXPERT-XL software to measure vertebral height were undertaken using four vertebrae from the same lateral spine image (male, 67 years). Two of the vertebrae in this image were abnormal and two were normal. It was concluded that AVMS had higher precision when measuring abnormal and normal vertebrae. The effects of axial rotation and lateral bending, which lead to movement out of the sagittal plane, were investigated by generating a three-dimensional computer model of two adjacent vertebrae and projecting it on to the sagittal plane. The projected model was measured as if it were a radiograph, allowing the effects of out-of-plane movement and errors in reference point placement to be calculated. ASVS was used to acquire and analyse a sequence of images of the spine in motion obtained using videofluoroscopy and incorporated the findings of the computer modelling work. A clinical study for the measurement of intervertebral motion using ASVS during flexion-extension was organised and seven subjects suffering from severe lower back pain were recruited. Analysis of the image sequences using the computerised measurement system in ASVS revealed the apparent effect of analgesia/sedative on the shape and size of centroidal trajectories of vertebrae, and the differences in trajectory shape between subjects. It was concluded that ASVS was able to quantify spinal motion at a minimal radiation dose to the subject.