Tissue-level behaviours underlying bulk spinal mechanics

脊柱由三个机械子系统组成：1）由2）由3）神经控制协调的收缩组织驱动的结构元件。鉴于这种组织，背痛被认为是由这些机械子系统的组织水平功能障碍引起的机械问题。不幸的是，脊柱组织行为的评估严重依赖于为手臂和腿部设计的传统方法。当应用于脊柱时，考虑到脊柱的较小、较多、较少移动的和较深的关节，这些方法可能存在问题。由于这些挑战，我们对机械性背痛的了解仍然有限，而其相关成本飙升。作为回应，Kawchuk博士的研究计划旨在通过旨在确定定义整体脊柱力学的关键组织水平行为的调查来应对这些挑战。该提案描述了该计划最成功的途径（结构子系统的刚度量化）的延续以及评估收缩子系统的增长。

The spine is made up of three mechanical subsystems: 1) structural elements animated by 2) contractile tissues that are coordinated by 3) neurological control. Given this organization, back pain is considered to be a mechanical problem arising from tissue-level dysfunction of these mechanical subsystems. Unfortunately, the evaluation of spinal tissue behaviours relies heavily on traditional approaches designed for the arms and legs. When applied to the spine, these approaches can be problematic given the spine's smaller, more numerous, less mobile and deeper articulations. As a result of these challenges, our understanding of mechanical back pain remains limited while its related costs soar. In response, Dr. Kawchuk's research program had been designed to address these challenges through investigations designed to identify the key tissue-level behaviours which define overall spinal mechanics. This proposal describes the continuation of the program's most successful avenue (stiffness quantification of the structural subsystem) as well as growth in evaluating the contractile subsystem.