Interplay between mechanical behaviour of the spine and skeletal muscle

这项研究计划的主要长期目标是促进对脊柱和肌肉功能之间生物力学关系的理解。脊柱肌肉展示了独特的设计，功能不同于身体的许多其他肌肉，并且在保持脊柱的稳定性方面具有重要作用。具体地说，脊柱是一个高度不稳定的结构，在缺乏强壮和协调的肌肉的情况下无法发挥作用。有许多自然发生的状态对这些肌肉有很高的要求，这反过来又可能需要适应，并随后改变它们稳定脊柱的能力。同样，脊柱稳定性水平的变化可以刺激周围肌肉的适应。因此，脊柱稳定性可以被视为被动和主动组织之间的自然机械和生理相互作用，其定义了对脊柱的要求和脊柱的结构。该补助金的短期重点旨在回答有关脊柱及其肌肉如何适应其功能能力以确保维持稳定脊柱的问题。将在大鼠模型中进行基础科学研究，以逐步改变（降低或增加）脊柱的稳定性水平或肌肉的稳定能力。将在细胞水平上测量肌肉的结构和主动收缩变化，这决定了它们的力量和运动产生能力，以及脊柱本身机械特性的变化。这些以动物为基础的研究将与人类志愿者的研究合作，后者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响应和补偿脊柱刚度和活动性的变化，以及男性和女性之间是否存在差异。这将提供有关驱动肌肉和脊柱适应，行为和使用模式的机制的新颖和有影响力的信息。最终，这些知识可以有助于开发新的战略，以预防和恢复加拿大人口的腰痛和疼痛。

The primary long-term goal of this research program is to advance the understanding of the biomechanical relationship between spine and muscle function. Spine muscles demonstrate a unique design, function differently from many other muscles of the body, and have an important role in maintaining the stability of the spine. Specifically, 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 stability level of the spine can stimulate adaptation in the surrounding muscles. Spine stability can therefore be viewed as a natural mechanical and physiological interaction between passive and active tissues, which defines the demands on, and structure of, the spine. The short-term focus of this grant is designed to answer questions relating to how the spine and its muscles adapt their functional capabilities to ensure the maintenance of a stable spine. Basic scientific studies will be conducted, in a rat model, to progressively alter (decrease or increase) the level of stability in the spine or the stabilization ability of the muscles. Measurements will be taken of structural and active contractile changes in the muscles at the cellular-level, which determine their force and movement-generating abilities, as well as changes to the mechanical properties of the spine itself. 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 and compensate for alterations in spine stiffness and mobility, and whether this differs between males and females. This will provide novel and impactful information regarding mechanisms that drive muscle and spine adaptation, behaviour and usage patterns. Ultimately this knowledge can contribute to the development of novel strategies to prevent and rehabilitate low back disorders and pain in the Canadian population.