Experimental and modeled estimates of the mechanical stability of the lumbar spine

Author

Cholewicki, J. ; Radebold, A. ; Simons, A.P.D.

Author_Institution

Biomech. Res. Lab., Yale Univ. Sch. of Med., New Haven, CT, USA

fYear

1999

fDate

8-9 Apr 1999

Firstpage

3

Lastpage

4

Abstract

This study used an EMG-assisted biomechanical model of the lumbar spine to estimate spine stability achieved prior to a sudden trunk-unloading event. This stability was compared to spine stiffness calculated from trunk kinematics measured after unloading. For both extension and lateral bending trials, initial spine stability level was shown to account for approximately 50% of variance in subsequently exhibited trunk stiffness. These results suggest that in addition to the mechanical stability level of the spine prior to sudden loading, the reflex response of the muscles immediately after loading determines the kinematic response of the trunk and subsequent likelihood of injury

Keywords

bending; biomechanics; electromyography; kinematics; mechanical stability; mechanoception; physiological models; EMG-assisted biomechanical model; extension; lateral bending; likelihood of injury; lumbar spine; mechanical stability; modeled estimates; reflex response; spine stability; spine stiffness; sudden trunk-unloading event; trunk kinematics; Back; Biomechanics; Force sensors; Injuries; Kinematics; Laboratories; Motor drives; Muscles; Spine; Stability;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Bioengineering Conference, 1999. Proceedings of the IEEE 25th Annual Northeast

Conference_Location

West Hartford, CT

Print_ISBN

0-7803-5486-9

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/NEBC.1999.755728

Filename

755728