Biological Systems Engineering, Department of

 

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2010

Citation

Proceedings of the NASS 25th Annual Meeting / The Spine Journal 10 (2010) 74S–75S. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2010.07.202

Comments

Copyright © 2010 Elsevier. Used by permission.

Abstract

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Occupation is strongly correlated to low back pain (LBP). Specific occupational activities associated with low back pain include poor posture, whole body vibration, and repetitive lifting. These activities have a common link: they result in fatigue of the primary spinal extensor musculature. This fatigue may lead to increased intervertebral loading - a stimulus for disc degeneration. If true, this association could provide a vital connection between detrimental physical activities and LBP. However, the link between muscle fatigue and increased load across the disc space has never been quantified in vivo.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop and test a wireless multi-axial force-sensing implant and large animal model of primary extensor muscle fatigue. Combined, these tools allow measurement of in vivo spinal forces during muscle fatigue to quantify changes in spine loading.

Share

COinS