Subjects sat on a 'Balans' chair supported by the shaft of a large torque generator. The lower but not the upper part of the body was free to make to/fro movements maintained by feeding back a modified velocity signal to the generator. The stiffness could be increased by the use of a position signal. Using the equations for a torsion pendulum the good linearity observed in relationship to the applied forces allowed stiffness, inertia, damping, critical damping and the damping factor to be determined in absolute terms. The method enables parameters relevant to back function and problems to be evaluated. Eleven adults acted as subjects. Experimental Physiology (2003) 88.3, 305-308.