A Framework for Studying the Dynamics of the Human Spine with Application to Clinical Treatments for Back Pain

人体脊柱可以被认为是一个非常复杂的动力系统。 脊柱与其支撑肌肉和韧带分离，脊柱将无法保持直立，肌肉力量（以及它们提供的力矩）的不平衡可能严重使脊柱残疾并导致身体疼痛。提出的研究的目标之一是使用现代分析和建模方法，以提高对人体脊柱动力学的理解。该研究的第二个目标是量化两种手术的效果：一种是椎骨融合，另一种是用假体装置（称为全椎间盘置换术（TDR））置换椎间盘。研究的最终目标是开发一个全面的脊柱动力学框架，可用于TDR的设计指南等应用。 朝着这些目标进行的研究，将具有数值，分析和实验组件，并涉及机械工程系在U.C.伯克利分校（UCB）和加州大学整形外科系。旧金山弗朗西斯科（UCSF）。 一个困扰社会的重大健康问题促使该项目产生更广泛的影响。 该项目将直接培养研究生和本科生谁将物质参与。这项研究的结果也将被纳入两个校区（UCB工程）和（UCSF矫形外科）的课程以及一个专门的网站。

The human spine can be considered as a dynamical system of enormous complexity. Isolated from its supporting muscles and ligaments, the spinal column would fail to stay erect, and an imbalance in the muscle forces (and the moments they supply) can severely disable the spine and result in physical pain. One of the goals of the proposed research is to use modern analytical and modeling methods to develop an improved understanding of the dynamics of the human spine. A second goal of the research is to quantify the effects of two surgeries: one where the vertebra are fused, and the other where the intervertebral disc is replaced with a prosthetic device which is known as a total disc replacement (TDR). The final goal of the research is to develop a comprehensive framework for spinal dynamics that can be used for such applications as design guidelines for TDR's. The research conducted towards these goals, will feature numerical, analytical, and experimental components, and involves the collaboration between the Department of Mechanical Engineering at U.C. Berkeley (UCB) and the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at U.C. San Francisco (UCSF). A substantial health issue that plagues society motivates the broader impacts of this project. The project will directly train both graduate and undergraduate students who will materially participate. The results from this research will also be incorporated into courses on both campuses (engineering at UCB) and (orthopaedic surgery at UCSF) and on a dedicated website.