Reciprocal Relationships between Spine Muscle Design, Remodeling and Spine Stability

本研究计划的主要长期目标是了解脊柱肌肉如何适应脊柱及其周围环境的变化，以及这些肌肉适应如何影响脊柱组织的机械行为和功能。背部和腹部的肌肉表现出独特的设计和功能，不同于身体的许多其他肌肉，并在保持脊柱的稳定性中发挥重要作用。事实上，脊柱是一个高度不稳定的结构，如果没有一组强壮而协调的肌肉，它就无法发挥作用。有许多自然发生的状态对这些肌肉提出了很高的要求，这反过来又需要适应并随后改变它们稳定脊柱的能力。同样，脊柱自然稳定水平的变化可以刺激脊柱肌肉的适应性。因此，脊柱稳定性可以被视为脊柱及其肌肉之间的自然机械和生理相互作用，它定义了脊柱、腹部和骨盆区域的结构和功能。该资助的短期重点旨在回答与脊柱肌肉如何适应不同程度的脊柱稳定性有关的问题。基础科学研究将在大鼠模型中进行，以逐步改变（降低或增加）脊柱的稳定性水平。将在蛋白质水平上测量肌肉的结构变化，这决定了它们的力量和运动产生能力，以及肌肉和周围结缔组织的机械特性的变化，这决定了它们在传递力量和使脊柱僵硬方面的有效性。这些以动物为基础的研究将与人类志愿者的研究合作，这些研究将使用肌肉电活动和脊柱运动的测量来深入了解肌肉如何应对挑战脊柱稳定性的不同任务。这将提供关于肌肉适应机制和脊柱力学行为和使用模式变化的新信息。

The primary long-term goal of this research program is to develop an understanding of how spinal muscles adapt to changes in the spine and its surroundings, and of how these muscle adaptations affect the mechanical behaviour and function of spinal tissues. Muscles of the back and abdominal region demonstrate a unique design and function differently from many other muscles of the body, and have an important role in maintaining the stability of the spine. Indeed, the spine is a highly unstable structure that cannot function in the absence of a strong and coordinated set of muscles. There are a number of naturally occurring states that place high demand on these muscles which, in turn, can necessitate adaptation and subsequently alter their ability to stabilize the spine. Similarly, a change in the natural stability level of the spine can stimulate adaptation in the spinal muscles. Spinal stability can therefore be viewed as a natural mechanical and physiological interaction between the spine and its muscles, which defines the structure and function of the spine, abdominal and pelvic regions. The short-term focus of this grant is designed to answer questions relating to how adaptation occurs in the spinal muscles in response to varying magnitudes of spinal stability. Basic scientific studies will be conducted, in a rat model, to progressively alter (decrease or increase) the level of stability in the spine. Measurements will be taken of structural changes in the muscles at the protein-level, which determine their force and movement-generating abilities, as well as changes to the mechanical properties of the muscles and surrounding connective tissues, which determine their effectiveness in transmitting force and stiffening the spine. These animal-based studies will be partnered with studies of human volunteers, which will use measurements of muscle electrical activity and spine movement to gain insight into how muscles respond to different tasks that challenge spine stability. This will provide novel information regarding mechanisms of muscle adaptation and resulting changes in spine mechanical behaviour and usage patterns.