SPINAL BENDING MOTIONS FOR PREVENTING DISC DEGENERATION

描述(申请人提供)：腰椎间盘退行性变是一种 脊椎衰弱障碍，但其涉及的机制 它的启动和发展在很大程度上是未知的。一定的压缩载荷 治疗方案已被证明可以诱导细胞凋亡和不可逆转的椎间盘。 退化，而其他人则不会。一些理论认为， 加载取决于时程应力(或应变)。为了支持这一点， 研究表明，特定的水平可能会带来好处。 肌肉骨骼组织中的机械刺激。基于初步的和 公布的数据中，我们假设存在一个代谢区，在这个区域内 椎间盘退变被抑制。我们预计这一区域的边界将是 由环空的流体静力和偏应力历史定义 纤维束和髓核。此外，我们假设 某些脊柱动态弯曲运动的养生法可以保持良好的 时程机械应力。用多孔超弹性进行参数分析 将进行椎间盘的有限元模型以预测应力历史 为了定义一组用于防止盘弯曲的候选弯曲方案 退化。然后将对这些方案进行实验测试，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.