FIG 1. Horizontal beam lateral view of a patient before (A) and after (B) padding with pillows under the upper chest and lower abdomen. The patient has severe back pain and tenderness at the L1 level. The wedge angle of the L1 vertebral body (marked) is 15 degrees before padding, and 7 degrees after padding. The anterior, midline, and posterior vertebral height of L1 increased by 4.7 mm, 3.3 mm, and 0 mm, respectively. L2 is an old fracture. No change in height or wedge angle at L2 level is found before and after padding.