Validation of an OpenSim full-body model with detailed lumbar spine for estimating lower lumbar spine loads during symmetric and asymmetric lifting tasks

Erica Beaucage-Gauvreau; William S P Robertson; Scott C E Brandon; Robert Fraser; Brian J C Freeman; Ryan B Graham; Dominic Thewlis; Claire F Jones

doi:10.1080/10255842.2018.1564819

Validation of an OpenSim full-body model with detailed lumbar spine for estimating lower lumbar spine loads during symmetric and asymmetric lifting tasks

Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin. 2019 Apr;22(5):451-464. doi: 10.1080/10255842.2018.1564819. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Authors

Erica Beaucage-Gauvreau^{1

2}, William S P Robertson³, Scott C E Brandon⁴, Robert Fraser^{5

6}, Brian J C Freeman^{7

8

9}, Ryan B Graham¹⁰, Dominic Thewlis¹¹, Claire F Jones^{12

13}

Affiliations

¹ a School of Mechanical Engineering , The University of Adelaide , Adelaide , South Australia , Australia.
² b Spinal Research Group, Centre for Orthopaedic & Trauma Research, Adelaide Medical School , The University of Adelaide , Adelaide , South Australia , Australia.
³ c School of Mechanical Engineering , The University of Adelaide , Adelaide , South Australia , Australia.
⁴ d School of Engineering , The University of Guelph , Guelph , Ontario , Canada.
⁵ e Affiliate Professor , The University of Adelaide , Adelaide , South Australia , Australia.
⁶ f Spinal Surgery , Royal Adelaide Hospital , Adelaide , South Australia , Australia.
⁷ g Spinal Services , Royal Adelaide Hospital , Adelaide , South Australia , Australia.
⁸ h Adelaide Medical School , The University of Adelaide , Adelaide , South Australia , Australia.
⁹ i Research Fellow, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute , Spinal Unit Administration, Royal Adelaide Hospital , Adelaide , South Australia , Australia.
¹⁰ j School of Human Kinetics , The University of Ottawa , Ottawa , Ontario , Canada.
¹¹ k Centre for Orthopaedic & Trauma Research, Adelaide Medical School , The University of Adelaide , Adelaide , South Australia , Australia.
¹² l Spinal Research Group, Centre for Orthopaedic & Trauma Research, Adelaide Medical School , The University of Adelaide , Adelaide , South Australia , Australia.
¹³ m School of Mechanical Engineering , The University of Adelaide , Adelaide , South Australia , Australia.

PMID: 30714401
DOI: 10.1080/10255842.2018.1564819

Abstract

There is currently no validated full-body lifting model publicly available on the OpenSim modelling platform to estimate spinal loads during lifting. In this study, the existing full-body-lumbar-spine model was adapted and validated for lifting motions to produce the lifting full-body model. Back muscle activations predicted by the model closely matched the measured erector spinae activation patterns. Model estimates of intradiscal pressures and in vivo measurements were strongly correlated. The same spine loading trends were observed for model estimates and reported vertebral body implant measurements. These results demonstrate the suitability of this model to evaluate changes in lumbar loading during lifting.

Keywords: Full-Body Model; lifting; modeling and simulations; spine biomechanics; spine loading; trunk.

Publication types

Clinical Trial
Validation Study

MeSH terms

Biomechanical Phenomena
Compressive Strength
Electromyography
Humans
Intervertebral Disc / physiology
Lifting*
Lumbar Vertebrae / physiology*
Male
Models, Biological*
Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
Pressure
Reproducibility of Results
Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
Task Performance and Analysis*
Weight-Bearing
Young Adult