In vivo measurements of spinal stiffness according to a stepwise increase of axial load

Glaus, L; Hofstetter, Léonie; Guekos, Alexandros; Schweinhardt, Petra; Swanenburg, Jaap

doi:10.1007/s00421-021-04705-5

Cited by 5 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 27 publications

(60 reference statements)

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“…The unchanged spinal stiffness in the mid-cervical vertebrae might be the results of opposite effects that cancel each other out, namely muscle activity and buckling. In contrast to the high-cervical spine, more low cervical muscle activity is needed to stabilize not only the head and the additional load, but also the high-cervical spine ( Bergmark, 1989 ; Swanenburg et al, 2020 ; Glaus et al, 2021 ). This increased muscle activation would be expected to lead to an increase in spinal stiffness ( Swanenburg et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thoracic and lumbar spinal stiffness was found to increase while standing, compared with a prone position ( Hausler et al, 2020 ). With increased axial load, either added via adding an additional axial load larger than 45% of the body weight with the help of a long weight bar or during hypergravity induced by parabolic flight, spinal stiffness decreased ( Swanenburg et al, 2018 , 2020 ; Hausler et al, 2020 ; Glaus et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of Axial Load and a 45-Degree Flexion Head Position on Cervical Spinal Stiffness in Healthy Young Adults

Hofstetter¹,

Häusler²,

Schweinhardt³

et al. 2021

Front. Physiol.

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Background: Neck pain is a major cause of disability worldwide. Poor neck posture such as using a smartphone or work-related additional cervical axial load, such headgear of aviators, can cause neck pain. This study aimed at investigating the role of head posture or additional axial load on spinal stiffness, a proxy measure to assess cervical motor control.Methods: The posterior-to-anterior cervical spinal stiffness of 49 young healthy male military employees [mean (SD) age 20 ± 1 years] was measured in two head positions: neutral and 45-degree flexed head position and two loading conditions: with and without additional 3 kg axial load. Each test condition comprised three trials. Measurements were taken at three cervical locations, i.e., spinous processes C2 and C7 and mid-cervical (MC).Results: Cervical spinal stiffness measurements showed good reliability in all test conditions. There was a significant three-way interaction between location × head position × load [F(2, 576) = 9.305, p < 0.001]. Significant two-way interactions were found between measurement locations × loading [F(2, 576) = 15.688, p < 0.001] and measurement locations × head position [F(2, 576) = 9.263, p < 0.001]. There was no significant interaction between loading × head position [F(1, 576) = 0.692, p = 0.406]. Post hoc analysis showed reduction of stiffness in all three measurement locations in flexion position. There was a decrease in stiffness in C2 with loading, increase in stiffness in C7 and no change in MC.Discussion: A flexed head posture leading to decreased stiffness of the cervical spine might contribute to neck pain, especially if the posture is prolonged and static, such as is the case with smartphone users. Regarding the additional load, stiffness decreased high cervical and increased low cervical. There was no change mid cervical. The lower spinal stiffness at the high cervical spine might be caused by capsular ligament laxity due to the buckling effect. At the lower cervical spine, the buckling effect seems to be less dominant, because the proximity to the ribs and sternum provide additional stiffness.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Axial Load and a 45-Degree Flexion Head Position on Cervical Spinal Stiffness in Healthy Young Adults

Hofstetter¹,

Häusler²,

Schweinhardt³

et al. 2021

Front. Physiol.

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“…Eine veränderte motorische Kontrolle selbst kann das Risiko eines Bandscheibenvorfalls bei Astronauten erhöhen. Es wurde nachgewiesen, dass sich die motorische Kontrolle bei Mikrogravitation schnell verändert und eine neue Stabilisationsstrategie entsteht 14 , 32 . Von uns kürzlich durchgeführte Parabelflugstudien, während denen neben Hypergravitation auch Mikrogravitation kurzfristig erzeugt werden konnte, zeigten einen raschen Anstieg der Steifigkeit der Lendenwirbelsäule L3.…”

Section: Rückengesundheit Im Allunclassified

“…3). Ähnlich wie in der ersten Studie haben wir festgestellt, dass die Steifigkeit bei einer axialen Be lastung ab 50 % des Körpergewichts der Teilnehmer abnimmt[32]. Das deutet darauf hin, dass ein Strategiewechsel der Wirbelsäulenstabilisation sowohl in Mikrogravitation wie auch bei zusätzlicher Wirbelsäulenbelastung stattfindet.Daraus ergibt sich die Frage, ob sich nach der Rückkehr von einer Weltraummission beide Stabilisationsstrategien wieder normalisieren.…”

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Rückenschmerzen und erhöhtes Bandscheibenvorfallrisiko bei Astronauten während und nach Raumfahrtmissionen

Swanenburg

Egli

Schweinhardt

2022

Flugmedizin · Tropenmedizin · Reisemedizin - FTR

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ZUSAMMENFASSUNGRückenschmerzen zu Beginn einer Raumfahrtmission sowie ein erhöhtes Risiko für Bandscheibenvorfälle (Diskusprolaps) nach der Rückkehr ist ein seit Langem bekanntes medizinisches Problem der bemannten Raumfahrt. Mit dem Bestreben, den Mond permanent zu besiedeln, wird der Erhalt der körperlichen Gesundheit in einer für den Menschen fremden Umgebung ein zentraler Faktor. Im Vergleich zu den Apollo-Flügen zum Mond in den 1970er-Jahren sollen die Aufenthalte auf dem Mond in Zukunft nicht nur ein paar Tage dauern, sondern Monate, was neue Gesundheitsrisiken mit sich bringt. Durch die Entfernung zur Erde und den dadurch eingeschränkten Zugang zu medizinischen Leistungen wird es ferner viel schwieriger oder gar unmöglich, bei Notfällen schnell einzugreifen. Deshalb sind neue Ideen zur Bewältigung der medizinischen Herausforderungen gefragt.

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“…Changes in body position [16] or gravitational loading [17] have also been demonstrated to rapidly modulate vertebral stiffness-defined as the vertebral column's resistance to deformation [18]. Vertebral compliance is posture-dependent [16] with postural muscle activation associated with weight-bearing leading to the term 'active' vertebral stiffness when upright, and 'passive' when prone and thus non-axial load bearing [19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of trunk exercise upon lumbar IVD height and vertebral compliance when performed supine with 1 g at the CoM compared to upright in 1 g

Marcos-Lorenzo

Frett

Gil-Martínez

et al. 2022

BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil

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Background Spinal unloading in microgravity is associated with stature increments, back pain, intervertebral disc (IVD) swelling and impaired spinal kinematics. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of lateral stabilization, trunk rotation and isometric abdominal exercise upon lumbar IVD height, and both passive and active vertebral compliance when performed supine on a short-arm human centrifuge (SAHC)—a candidate microgravity countermeasure—with 1 g at the CoM, compared to that generated with equivalent upright exercise in 1 g. Methods 12 (8 male) healthy subjects (33.8 ± 7 years, 178.4 ± 8.2 cm, 72.1 ± 9.6 kg) gave written informed consent. Subjects performed three sets of upper body trunk exercises either when standing upright (UPRIGHT), or when being spun on the SAHC. Lumbar IVD height and vertebral compliance (active and passive) were evaluated prior to SAHC (PRE SAHC) and following the first SAHC (POST SPIN 1) and second Spin (POST SPIN 2), in addition to before (PRE UPRIGHT), and after upright trunk exercises (POST UPRIGHT). Results No significant effect upon IVD height (L2–S1) when performed UPRIGHT or on the SAHC was observed. Trunk muscle exercise induced significant (p < 0.05) reduction of active thoracic vertebral compliance when performed on the SAHC, but not UPRIGHT. However, no effect was observed in the cervical, lumbar or across the entire vertebral column. On passive or active vertebral compliance. Conclusion This study, the first of its kind demonstrates that trunk exercise were feasible and tolerable. Whilst trunk muscle exercise appears to have minor effect upon IVD height, it may be a candidate approach to mitigate—particularly active—vertebral stability on Earth, and in μg via concurrent SAHC. However, significant variability suggests larger studies including optimization of trunk exercise and SAHC prescription with MRI are warranted. Trial Registration North Rhine ethical committee (Number: 6000223393) and registered on 29/09/2020 in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00021750).

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In vivo measurements of spinal stiffness according to a stepwise increase of axial load

Cited by 5 publications

References 27 publications

Influence of Axial Load and a 45-Degree Flexion Head Position on Cervical Spinal Stiffness in Healthy Young Adults

Influence of Axial Load and a 45-Degree Flexion Head Position on Cervical Spinal Stiffness in Healthy Young Adults

Rückenschmerzen und erhöhtes Bandscheibenvorfallrisiko bei Astronauten während und nach Raumfahrtmissionen

Effect of trunk exercise upon lumbar IVD height and vertebral compliance when performed supine with 1 g at the CoM compared to upright in 1 g

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