Empirical quantification of intersegmental spine neuromuscular function during dynamic movements

我的研究计划旨在利用新的方法来了解影响脊柱(Dys)功能的生物力学和神经生理学因素。这一赠款周期的目标是特别关注非侵入性地评估节段间脊柱运动学和神经肌肉协调的方法的进步。这项拟议的研究将在我的研究计划内推动未来的工作，该计划旨在了解发生在特定脊柱水平的生物力学损伤。这笔赠款中提议的工作有两个主要目标。第一个目标中的研究旨在(I)探讨背部形状在骨性脊椎运动/方向背景下的功能意义，以及(Ii)探索同时与顺序脊柱节段间屈伸协调策略的功能相关性。结合起来，AIM 1中的研究将反复改进现有的非侵入性表面模型，旨在估计节段间脊柱运动学，同时还改善围绕节段间运动协调的基本生物力学和神经肌肉理解。第二个目标中的研究旨在扩大目标1中评估的方法的生态效用。具体地说，研究研究旨在评估(I)惯性传感器和(Ii)迁移学习计算机视觉方法在动态背形评估中的有效性。通过开发和验证这些新的、低成本的方法来评估脊柱节段间运动学，评估脊柱运动(Dys)功能的工具将在我的领域内更容易获得。这些新颖的工具将直接支持自然科学与工程(NSE)的研究，并将通过降低与设备成本相关的障碍，间接支持我的NSE子领域的多样性，同时允许使用常规实验室环境之外的设备。这种新颖的基础科学和计算模型的结合有可能极大地惠及加拿大的NSE领域，原因有很多。首先，在这项拟议的研究计划中，有针对性的HQP培训将继续扩大和多样化脊柱生物力学和神经肌肉控制领域。下一步，由于现在可以使用微创方法对动态运动期间节段间脊柱神经肌肉功能进行经验性量化，上述领域的研究将扩大到那些经济有限的人或那些在传统实验室环境之外工作的人。最后，通过评估用于协调节段间脊柱屈伸运动的基本时空策略，我所在领域的研究人员将对在各种运动任务和条件下有多少解剖学、生理学和生物力学因素对脊柱(Dys)功能产生机械作用有更好的生物学和力学理解。

My research program is designed to utilize novel methods to understand biomechanical and neurophysiological factors contributing to spine (dys)function. The goal of this grant cycle is to specifically focus on the advancement of methods to estimate of intersegmental spine kinematics and neuromuscular coordination non-invasively. This proposed research will propel future work within my research program designed to understand biomechanical impairments occurring at specific spine levels. The work proposed within this grant has two primary aims. Research studies within the first aim are designed to (i) investigate the functional meaning of back shape in the context of bony vertebral movement/orientation, and (ii) explore the functional relevance of simultaneous vs. sequential spine intersegmental flexion-extension coordination strategies. Combined, research studies within Aim 1 will iteratively refine existing non-invasive surface models designed to estimate intersegmental spine kinematics while also improving the basic biomechanical and neuromuscular understanding surrounding intersegmental movement coordination. Research studies within the second aim are designed to expand the ecological utility of the methods evaluated in Aim 1. Specifically, research studies have been designed to assess the utility of (i) inertial sensor and (ii) transfer-learning computer vision methods in the evaluation of dynamic back shape. By developing and validating these novel, low-cost approaches to estimate spine intersegmental kinematics, tools for assessing spine motor (dys)function will be more accessible within my field. These novel tools will directly support research within the Natural Sciences and Engineering (NSE) and will indirectly support diversity within my NSE subfield by lowering barriers associated with equipment cost, while concurrently allowing for the use of equipment outside of a conventional laboratory setting. This combination of novel basic science and computational modelling has the potential to greatly benefit the Canadian NSE fields for a variety of reasons. First, the targeted HQP training within this proposed research program will continue to expand and diversify the fields of spine biomechanics and neuromuscular control. Next, as the empirical quantification of intersegmental spine neuromuscular function during dynamic movements will now be possible using minimally invasive approaches, research within the aforementioned areas will be expanded to those with financial limits or those working outside of conventional laboratory environments. Finally, by evaluating the basic spatiotemporal strategies utilized in the coordination of intersegmental spine flexion-extension movement, researchers within my field will have an improved biological and mechanical understanding for how many anatomical, physiological and biomechanical factors contribute mechanistically to spine (dys)function during a variety of movement tasks and conditions.