Clinical biomechanics
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Clinical biomechanics · Jan 2014
Biomechanical comparison of a two-level anterior discectomy and a one-level corpectomy, combined with fusion and anterior plate reconstruction in the cervical spine.
Common fusion techniques for cervical degenerative diseases include two-level anterior discectomy and fusion and one-level corpectomy and fusion. The aim of the study was to compare via in-vitro biomechanical testing the effects of a two-level anterior discectomy and fusion and a one-level corpectomy and fusion, with anterior plate reconstruction. ⋯ A two-level cage-plate construct provides greater stability in flexion, extension and lateral bending motions when compared to a one-level corpectomy-plate construct. A two-level cage-plate is more likely to maintain axial balance by reducing the energy lost in axial rotation.
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Clinical biomechanics · Jan 2014
Lumbopelvic rhythm during forward and backward sagittal trunk rotations: combined in vivo measurement with inertial tracking device and biomechanical modeling.
The ratio of total lumbar rotation over pelvic rotation (lumbopelvic rhythm) during trunk sagittal movement is essential to evaluate spinal loads and discriminate between low back pain and asymptomatic population. ⋯ A simultaneous rhythm between the lumbar and pelvis movements was found during both forward and backward trunk movements. While the lumbar spine contributed more to the trunk rotation during early and final stages of forward flexion and backward extension, respectively, the pelvis contributed more during final and early stages of forward flexion and backward extension, respectively. Our healthy subjects adapted a lumbopelvic coordination that diminished L5-S1 compression force.
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Clinical biomechanics · Jan 2014
Quantifying the passive stretching response of human tibialis anterior muscle using shear wave elastography.
Quantifying passive stretching responses of individual muscles helps the diagnosis of muscle disorders and aids the evaluation of surgical/rehabilitation treatments. Utilizing an animal model, we demonstrated that shear elastic modulus measured by supersonic shear wave elastography increases linearly with passive muscle force. This study aimed to use this state-of-the-art technology to study the relationship between shear elastic modulus and ankle dorsi-plantarflexion angle of resting tibialis anterior muscles and extract physiologically meaningful parameters from the elasticity-angle curve to better quantify passive stretching responses. ⋯ This study demonstrated the feasibility of using supersonic shear wave elastography to quantify passive stretching characteristics of individual muscle and provided preliminary normative values of slack angle, slack elasticity, and rate of increase in elasticity for human tibialis anterior muscles. Future studies will investigate diagnostic values of these parameters in clinical applications.