High magnitude cyclic load triggers inflammatory response in lumbar ligaments

Cumulative trauma disorder is commonly reported by workers engaged in prolonged repetitive/cyclic occupational activities. Recent experimental evidence confirms that relatively short periods of cyclic lumbar flexion at high loads result in substantial creep of viscoelastic tissues, prolonged periods of its recovery to baseline together with a neuromuscular disorder and exposure to instability. The biochemical process associated with the creep and neuromuscular disorder are not well explored. The purpose of the study is to identify the ligaments as one of the organs of failure and an acute inflammation as the result of failure as a preliminary step in the development of chronic inflammation that might lead to cumulative trauma disorder elicited by high magnitude cyclic loads.

The lumbar spine of anaesthetized cats was subjected to cyclic flexion loading at high magnitudes for six periods of 10 min each with 10 min rest in between followed by 7h rest. Lumbar displacement was monitored throughout. Supraspinous ligaments from L-3/4, L-4/5, L-5/6 and unloaded T-10/11 were removed at the end of testing and assessed using mRNA expression for cytokine (IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, TNFalpha, TGFbeta). Cytokines expression in the lumbar ligaments were statistically compared to their self control in the unloaded thoracic ligament. The creep developed during the loading and its recovery during the 7h rest was calculated.

The mean creep developed during the loading period reached 57.3% recovering to a residual value of 25.5% at the end of the 7h rest. Increase in cytokine expression was seen in all lumbar ligaments with statistical significance in the L-4/5 and L-5/6 levels.

The results confirm that prolonged high magnitude cyclic loading of the lumbar spine in flexion-extension elicits substantial residual creep together with significant increases in cytokines expression, consistent with an acute inflammation, several hours post loading. Further exposure to cyclic loading over time may result in conversion to chronic inflammation.