Finite Element Analysis of the effects of resting muscle tone on enthesis sites in the lumbar spine

Using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to model the lumbar spine and its surrounding fascia provides valuable information regarding the reactions between the multifidus muscle and the spine. The focus of this study is to analyze the effects of resting muscle stiffness properties at the enthesis sites of the spine. Entheses, or attachment sites of tendons, joint capsules or ligaments to bones, have been shown to be locations of stress concentrations. Additionally, enthesophytes, or bone spurs at an enthesis, have also been identified as a physiological response to mechanical stress. This study will test the hypothesis that the enthesis lesions present in patients with low back pain (LBP) and other musculoskeletal disorders such as ankylosing spondylitis (AS) may result from excess stress concentrations due to increased resting muscle stiffness.