In vivo age- and sex-related creep of human lumbar motion segments and discs in pure centric tension

In vivo creep of human lumbar motion segments and discs subject to pure centric tension is presented, in terms of aging, sex and disc level. Time-related elongations of segments L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1 were measured during the usual 20 min long traction hydrotherapy of patients, by using a computerized subaqual ultrasound measuring method [Kurutz et al., 2002a. Orvosi Hetilap 143 (13), 673–684; Kurutz et al., 2003. Journal of Bioengineering and Biomechanics 5 (1), 67–92]. Elongation of segments was considered as a change of the distance between two adjacent spinous processes. Based on these experiments, in vivo creep of human lumbar FSUs was investigated in centric tension, in terms of sex, age and disc level. Three-parameter rheological models were used to determine viscoelastic tensile moduli of human lumbar FSUs and discs. From three time-related measured elongation values, in vivo damping constants with creep functions were calculated for each segment, in terms of sex, aging and disc level. It has been demonstrated that initial elastic elongations decrease, concerning stiffness increase with aging. Similarly, tensile creep elongations decrease, damping properties increase with aging. Former observations concerning the difference in deformation propagation of men and women in time, have been verified by means of creep analysis: although males have higher initial elastic deformability, due to a smaller damping of females, the deformation propagation of women overtakes men in creep process. This tendency is more significant with aging. Increasing damping was observed in distal direction, both for males and females.