Twente Spine Model: A thorough investigation of the spinal loads in a complete and coherent musculoskeletal model of the human spine. (June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bayoglu, Riza; Galibarov, Pavel E.; Verdonschot, Nico; Koopman, Bart; Homminga, Jasper
• Is Part Of: Medical engineering & physics. Volume 68(2019)
• Page Start: 35
• Page End: 45
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Subjects: Spinal loads -- Musculoskeletal model -- Intradiscal pressure -- Subject-specific -- AnyBody; Biomedical engineering -- Periodicals; Biomedical Engineering -- Periodicals; Physics -- Periodicals; Génie biomédical -- Périodiques; Biomedical engineering; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2019.03.015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1350-4533

Abstract

Highlights: We developed a complete and coherent musculoskeletal model of the entire human spine and studied the intervertebral disc compression forces. Intradiscal pressures estimated from predicted compressive forces were generally in close agreement with previous measurements of spinal loads both quantitatively and qualitatively. We found that compressive forces at the trunk discs increased during trunk lateral bending and axial rotation of the trunk. During trunk flexion, compressive forces increased in the thoracolumbar and lumbar regions and slightly decreased at the middle thoracic discs. The model predicted increased compression forces in neck flexion, lateral bending, and axial rotation, and decreased forces in neck extension. Abstract: Although in vivo spinal loads have been previously measured, existing data are limited to certain lumbar and thoracic levels. A detailed investigation of spinal loads would assist with injury prevention and implant design but is unavailable. In this study, we developed a complete and coherent musculoskeletal model of the entire human spine and studied the intervertebral disc compression forces for physiological movements on three anatomical planes. This model incorporates the individual vertebrae at the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions, a flexible ribcage, and complete muscle anatomy. Intradiscal pressures were estimated from predicted compressive forces, and these were generally in close agreement with previously measured data. We found that compressive forces at the trunk discs increased during trunk lateral bending and axial rotation of the trunk. During flexion, compressive forces increased in the thoracolumbar and lumbar regions and slightly decreased at the middle thoracic discs. In extension, the forces generally decreased at the thoracolumbar and lumbar discs whereas they slightly increased at the upper and middle thoracic discs. Furthermore, similar to a previous biomechanical model of the cervical spine, our model predicted increased compression forces in neck flexion, lateral bending, and axial rotation, and decreased forces in neck extension.