Tissue-level behaviours underlying bulk spinal mechanics

脊柱由三个机械子系统组成：1)由可收缩组织驱动的结构元素，2)由神经控制协调的组织。鉴于这种组织结构，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，脊髓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，这些方法可能会有问题，因为脊柱的关节更小，数量更多，活动更少，更深。由于这些挑战，我们对机械性背痛的理解仍然有限，而相关费用却在飙升。作为回应，Kawchuk博士的研究计划旨在通过调查来确定定义整体脊柱力学的关键组织水平行为来解决这些挑战。该提案描述了该项目最成功的途径（结构子系统的刚度量化）的延续，以及在评估收缩子系统方面的增长。

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.