Biomechanics of the aging spine. Biomed Sci Instrum 2006;42:1-6
Date
07/05/2006Pubmed ID
16817576Scopus ID
2-s2.0-33745201636 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 20 CitationsAbstract
Experimental studies indicate age and degeneration affect spinal biomechanics. In vitro biomechanical experimentation is used to validate finite element cervical spine models. A high percentage of experimental studies have utilized older specimens. Computer models based on these experimental studies may not accurately represent the normal population. Younger full-column and C5-C6 motion segments were tested under pure sagittal plane moments. A review of literature was conducted, and results from previous studies were compared to present data to determine whether age was an influencing factor in spinal biomechanics. Findings indicate younger specimens under equivalent pure moment loading magnitudes underwent greater ranges of motion between 0.5 and 2.5 Nm. Based on these preliminary findings, validation of finite element modeling to ensure biofidelity should consider age as a factor that may affect biomechanics.
Author List
Board D, Stemper BD, Yoganandan N, Pintar FA, Shender B, Paskoff GAuthors
Frank A. Pintar PhD Chair, Professor in the Biomedical Engineering department at Medical College of WisconsinBrian Stemper PhD Professor in the Biomedical Engineering department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Narayan Yoganandan PhD Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AgingBiomechanical Phenomena
Cervical Vertebrae
Compressive Strength
Computer Simulation
Elasticity
Finite Element Analysis
Models, Biological
Range of Motion, Articular
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity
Stress, Mechanical
Weight-Bearing
