SPINAL BENDING MOTIONS FOR PREVENTING DISC DEGENERATION

描述（由申请人提供）：椎间盘退变是一种 脊柱衰弱性疾病，但其涉及的机制 其发生和发展在很大程度上是未知的。一定的压缩载荷 治疗方案已显示诱导细胞凋亡和不可逆椎间盘 退化，而其他人则没有。一些理论假设， 载荷取决于时间历程应力（或应变）。为了支持这一点， 研究表明，特定的水平可以带来好处， 肌肉骨骼组织中的机械刺激。根据初步和 根据已发表的数据，我们假设存在一个代谢区， 椎间盘退化被抑制。我们预计，这一地区的边界将是 由环空的流体静力学和偏应力历史定义 纤维和髓核。此外，我们假设， 动态脊柱弯曲运动的某些方案可以保持有利的 时程机械应力参数分析使用多孔超弹性 将进行盘的有限元模型以预测应力历史 为了限定一组候选弯曲方案 退化这些方案将进行实验测试，以确定 对生物合成和细胞凋亡的影响。

DESCRIPTION(provided by applicant):Intervertebral disc degeneration is a debilitating disorder of the spine, but the mechanisms involved in its initiation and progression are largely unknown. Certain compressive loading regimens have been shown to induce apoptosis and irreversible disc degeneration, while others do not. Some theories postulate that the effects of loading are dependent on time-history stress (or strain). In support of this, studies have shown that there can be benefits associated with specific levels of mechanical stimulation in musculoskeletal tissues. Based on preliminary and published data, we hypothesize the existence of a metabolic zone within which disc degeneration is inhibited. We expect that the borders of this zone will be defined by the hydrostatic and deviatoric stress histories of the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus, respectively. Furthermore, we hypothesize that certain regimens of dynamic spinal bending motions can maintain a favorable time-history mechanical stress. Parametric analyses using a poro-hyperelastic finite element model of the disc will be performed to predict stress histories in order to define a set of candidate bending regimens for preventing disc degeneration. These regimens will then be tested experimentally to determine the effects on biosynthesis and apoptosis.