A device and method for measurement of spinal mobility are provided for measuring spinal mobility. The apparatus is a hand-held device that includes a gripping portion connected to a force transmitter, a reference member, displacement sensor, and load cell. A force applied downwardly on the gripping portion is transmitted to the force transmitter which is placed on a vertebra of the spine of a subject. The reference member rests on an adjacent vertebra. The displacement sensor determines displacement of the force transmitter relative to the reference member, as a function of the applied force measure by the load cell.
