A subject-specific biomechanical control model for the prediction of cervical spine muscle forces

Abstract

After full validation, this model should offer a relevant and efficient tool for the biomechanical and clinical study of the cervical spine, which might improve the understanding of cervical spine disorders.

Sensitivity of the Cervical Disc Loads, Translations, Intradiscal Pressure, and Muscle Activity Due to Segmental Mass, Disc Stiffness, and Muscle Strength in an Upright Neutral Posture

“…These estimated muscle forces were within the range (approx. 3.2–6 N) found in other studies ( Assi et al, 2005 ; Van den Abbeele et al, 2018 ).…”

“…The axial and shear loads estimated were compared with the findings in the literature ( Barrett et al, 2020 ). In addition, the estimated 34 group muscle forces and activities were also compared qualitatively with data found in the literature ( Assi et al, 2005 ; Ibrahim, 2015 ; Van den Abbeele et al, 2018 ).…”

Distribution of intervertebral compression and shear forces in the cervical spine during isometric tasks

“…Similarly to this latter model but conversely to other ones (Moroney et al 1988;Van den Abbeele et al 2018), the present model allows for a simultaneous analysis at all intervertebral levels ( Figure 2). Similar force distributions were found between the intervertebral levels in flexion and extension, although the muscle recruitments (Figure 1) were different.…”

“…12.8 N.m and -25.9 N.m) (Moroney et al 1988), were transformed into horizontal forces at the level of the skull centre of mass to be applied to the entire musculoskeletal model. The estimated intervertebral compression and shear forces at C4/C5, as well as 8 musculo-tendon forces, were then compared with the results of two other neck models (Moroney et al 1988;Van den Abbeele et al 2018). In the present model, the forces obtained in the different lines of action of a same muscle (or muscle group) were summed up.…”

“…Task related estimation of the musculo-tendon and intervertebral forces in the neck can help gaining some insights on the role of the central nervous system and in assessing cervical spine disorders. Musculoskeletal models have been developed to solve the muscular redundancy and estimate these forces, generally based on a static equilibrium computed at the level of the C4/ C5 joint, e.g., (Moroney et al 1988;Van den Abbeele et al 2018). However, solving the equilibrium of the entire cervical spine system is essential to be able to evaluate its muscular response (including from its numerous multi-level muscles) as well as the loads transmitted to the vertebrae and inter-vertebral discs.…”