Approaches to study spine biomechanics: A literature review

Abstract

A large population will likely experience lower back pain during their lifetime. Severe cases of lower back pain can sometimes be caused by back conditions or diseases, eventually being alleviated through surgical procedure. Skilled surgeons can make educated decisions on the best procedure for their patients, but the development of a spine model that can estimate biomechanical properties of the spine could aid in surgical decision-making. This paper discusses the current state of the art of four approaches used to study spine biomechanics: in vivo experimentation, in vitro cadaveric testing, finite element analysis, and musculoskeletal modeling. It is concluded that using a combination of these methods can lead to more accurate spine models that could possibly lead to clinical use.