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Published on: July 21, 2023
Intervertebral disc degeneration reduces vertebral motion responses.
Christopher J Colloca1, Tony S Keller, Robert J Moore
1Department of Kinesiology, Biomechanics Laboratory, Exercise and Sport Science Research Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA. christopher.colloca@asu.edu
Spine
|September 1, 2007
Summary
Degenerated discs significantly reduce spinal motion responses to mechanical forces, with responses varying based on the duration of the applied pulse. This finding is crucial for understanding spinal manipulation therapy in degenerated spines.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanical research
- Spinal kinematics
- Degenerative disc disease
Background:
- Spine kinematics during posteroanterior loading mimicking spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) has been studied.
- Few studies have quantified SMT loading-induced spinal motion responses in degenerated intervertebral discs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the effects of disc degeneration and variable pulse duration mechanical excitation on lumbar kinematic responses.
- Investigate how degenerated discs affect spinal motion under SMT-like loading.
Main Methods:
- A prospective in vivo study involving 15 sheep with surgically induced chronic disc degeneration (L1-L2) and 10 controls.
- Applied uniform pulse dorsoventral mechanical forces (80 N) with 10-, 100-, and 200-ms durations to L3 spinous processes.
- Compared L3 displacement and L2-L1 acceleration between control and degenerated disc groups.
Main Results:
- Dorsoventral displacements increased significantly with increasing pulse duration in both groups.
- Displacements and L2-L1 acceleration transfer were significantly reduced in the degenerated disc group compared to controls (approx. 19% and 50% reduction, respectively).
Conclusions:
- Dorsoventral vertebral motions are dependent on mechanical excitation pulse duration.
- These motions are significantly reduced in the presence of degenerated discs.
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