The Influence of Muscle Forces on the Stress Distribution in the Lumbar Spine

  • Introduction: Previous studies of bone stresses in the human lumbar spine have relied on simplified models when modeling the spinal musculature, even though muscle forces are likely major contributors to the stresses in the vertebral bones. Detailed musculoskeletal spine models have recently become available and show good correlation with experimental findings. A combined inverse dynamics and finite element analysis study was conducted in the lumbar spine to investigate the effects of muscle forces on a detailed musculoskeletal finite element model of the 4th lumbar vertebral body. Materials and Methodology: The muscle forces were computed with a detailed and validated inverse dynamics musculoskeletal spine model in a lifting situation, and were then applied to an orthotropic finite element model of the 4th lumbar vertebra. The results were compared with those from a simplified load case without muscles. Results: In general the von Mises stress was larger by 30%, and even higher when looking at the von Mises stress distribution in the superio-anterior and central part of the vertebral body and in the pedicles. Conclusion: The application of spine muscles to a finite element model showed markedly larger von Mises stress responses in the central and anterior part of the vertebral body, which can be tolerated in the young and healthy spine, but it would increase the risk of compression fractures in the elderly, osteoporotic spine.

Export metadata

Additional Services

Share in Twitter Search Google Scholar Statistics
Metadaten
Author:Christian Wong, John Rasmussen, Erik B. Simonsen, Lone Hansen, Mark de Zee, Sebastian DendorferORCiD
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2174/1876532701103010021
Parent Title (English):The Open Spine Journal
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Year of first Publication:2011
Release Date:2020/05/12
Tag:Finite element analysis; Inverse dynamics; Lumbar spine; Muscle influence
GND Keyword:Lendenwirbelsäule; Muskelkraft; Belastung; Finite-Elemente-Methode
Volume:3
Issue:1
First Page:21
Last Page:26
Institutes:Fakultät Maschinenbau
Fakultät Maschinenbau / Labor Biomechanik (LBM)
research focus:Lebenswissenschaften und Ethik