Relative efficiency of abdominal muscles in spine stability

N. Arjmand, A. Shirazi-Adl and M. Parnianpour

Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 2008, vol. 11, issue 3, 291-299

Abstract: Using an iterative kinematics-driven nonlinear finite element model, relative efficiency of individual abdominal muscles in spinal stability in upright standing posture was investigated. Effect of load height on stability and muscle activities was also computed under different coactivity levels in abdominal muscles. The internal oblique was the most efficient muscle (compared with the external oblique and rectus abdominus) in providing stability while generating smaller spinal loads with lower fatigue rate of muscles. As the weight was held higher, stability deteriorated requiring additional flexor–extensor activities. The stabilising efficacy of abdominal muscles diminished at higher activities. The difference in critical loads in frontal and sagittal planes computed in the absence of abdominal coactivity disappeared under prescribed coactivities suggesting an optimal system in stability. The central nervous system may settle for a less stable spine in favour of lowering the risk of injury. Findings could help introduce stability criterion in optimisation models.

Date: 2008
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/10255840802020404 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:taf:gcmbxx:v:11:y:2008:i:3:p:291-299

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.tandfonline.com/pricing/journal/gcmb20

DOI: 10.1080/10255840802020404

Access Statistics for this article

Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering is currently edited by Director of Biomaterials John Middleton

More articles in Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering from Taylor & Francis Journals
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Longhurst ().