Innovative biomechanical modelling of the spine with a focus on paraspinal musculature

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The muscles around the human spine play a fundamental role in its ability to maintain an erect posture while enabling movement of the trunk. There exist computer models of the spine to help us understand the functioning of these muscles, yet these models are cumbersome to use. Over the past several years, we have developed a model of the human spine that uses the ArtiSynth software developed at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada. This software uses a very efficient algorithm such that solution times are on the order of minutes rather than days.****The focus of this project is the enhanced biomechanical modelling of the human spine with particular emphasis on the fundamental role of paraspinal muscle geometry and properties. The research will involve advanced musculoskeletal dynamic modelling of the thoracolumbar spine, image analysis of the spine and paraspinal musculature in human subjects pre and post-surgery, and measurement of muscle properties from tissue specimens taken from subjects at the time of surgery.****The long-term objective of this research is to develop a subject specific, pre-operative planning software package that would accurately predict spinal loading along the entire thoracolumbar spine.**