Morphology and Composition of Lumbar Intervertebral Discs: Comparative Analyses of Manual Measurement and Computer-Assisted Algorithms.

Background: The morphology and internal composition, particularly the nucleus-to-cross sectional area (NP-to-CSA) ratio of the lumbar intervertebral discs (IVDs), is important information for finite element models (FEMs) of spinal loadings and biomechanical behaviors, and, yet, this has not been well investigated and reported.

Methods: Anonymized MRI scans were retrieved from a previously established database, including a total of 400 lumbar IVDs from 123 subjects (58 F and 65 M). Measurements were conducted manually by a spine surgeon and using two computer-assisted segmentation algorithms, i.

Efficacy of an Omaha system-based remote ergonomic intervention program on self-reported work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) - A randomized controlled study.

Purpose: Heavy biomechanical loadings at workplaces may lead to high risks of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of an Omaha System-based remote ergonomic intervention program on self-reported work-related musculoskeletal disorders among frontline nurses.

Materials And Methods: From July to October 2020, 94 nurses with self-reported pain in one of the three body parts, i.

Gait Asymmetry Variation in Kinematics, Kinetics, and Muscle Force along with the Severity Levels of Knee Osteoarthritis.

Objective: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients exhibit greater gait asymmetry than healthy controls. However, gait asymmetry in kinematics, kinetics and muscle forces across patients with different severity levels of knee OA is still unknown. The study aimed to investigate the changes of gait asymmetry in lower limb kinematics, kinetics, and muscle force across patients with different severity levels of knee OA.

Gait asymmetry of lower extremities reduced immediately after minimally invasive surgery among patients with lumbar disc herniation.

Background: Lumbar disc herniation patients with increased pain exhibit greater gait asymmetry in stance time, swing time and single support time. Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy, as a minimally invasive surgical procedure has been used to treat patients with lumbar disc herniation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the immediate impact of the percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy on gait asymmetry in spatiotemporal and kinetic parameters among lumbar disc herniation patients.

Evaluating Different Measures of Low Back Pain Among U.S. Manual Materials Handling Workers: Comparisons of Demographic, Psychosocial, and Job Physical Exposure.

Objective: To examine differences in demographic, psychosocial, and job physical exposure risk factors between multiple low back pain (LBP) outcomes in a prospective cohort of industrial workers.

Background: LBP remains a leading cause of lost industrial productivity. Different case definitions involving pain (general LBP), medication use (M-LBP), seeking healthcare (H-LBP), and lost time (L-LBP) are often used to study LBP outcomes.

Psychosocial Factors and Low Back Pain Outcomes in a Pooled Analysis of Low Back Pain Studies.

Objective: Assessment of possible relationships between work-related psychosocial measures and self-reported low back pain (LBP) outcomes in a large pooled dataset of 1929 participants from 82 facilities in the United States.

Methods: Pooled data from three prospective cohort studies were used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for relationships between psychosocial factors and the LBP outcomes. Personal and occupational confounders were controlled for in adjusted Logistic regression models.

Regression Models for the Erector Spinae Muscle Mass (ESMM) Cross-Sectional Area: Asymptomatic Populations.

Understanding low back muscle morphology is critical to understanding spinal loading and the underlying injury mechanisms, which help in characterizing risk and, therefore, minimize low back pain injuries. Individualized erector spinae muscle mass (ESMM) cross-sectional area (CSA) allows biomechanics practitioners to calculate individualized force generating capacities and spinal loadings for given tasks. The objective is to perform morphological analyses and then provide regression models to estimate the ESMM CSA of an individual with his/her subject characteristics.

Biomechanical Evaluations of Bed-to-Wheelchair Transfer: Gait Belt Versus Walking Belt.

Nursing personnel, particularly caregivers who frequently perform manual patient transfer tasks, are at risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). The purpose of this study was to perform biomechanical evaluations of bed-to-wheelchair transfer using two low-cost assistive devices: walking belt and gait belt. Twenty-eight college students, serving as caregivers, transferred 14 students, serving as patients.

Sit-To-Stand Lift: Effects of Lifted Height on Weight Borne and Upper Extremity Strength Requirements.

To prevent back and shoulder injuries to nursing personnel, sit-to-stand lifts are used to transfer partial-weight-bearing patients with upper extremity strength. However, the weight-bearing capacity and upper extremity strength required of patients have not been defined. The objectives of this study were to determine: (a) the percentage of body weight borne by the patient when lifted to different heights in the lift and (b) whether a patient needs upper extremity strength.

Impact of Work Organizational Factors on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Epicondylitis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify relationships between work organizational variables (job rotation, overtime work, having a second job, and work pacing) (These work organizational variables and their relationships with biomechanical and psychosocial exposures were studied previously and published in a separate paper.) and health outcome measures [carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), lateral and medial epicondylitis (LEPI/MEPI)].

Methods: Using a pooled baseline cohort of 1834 subjects, the relationships were studied using logistic regression models.

Psychosocial Factors Related to Lateral and Medial Epicondylitis: Results From Pooled Study Analyses.

Objective: The goal is to assess the relationships between psychosocial factors and both medial and lateral epicondylitis after adjustment for personal and job physical exposures.

Methods: One thousand eight hundred twenty-four participants were included in pooled analyses. Ten psychosocial factors were assessed.

Morphometry of the lower lumbar intervertebral discs and endplates: comparative analyses of new MRI data with previous findings.

Purpose: Variability of the human lower lumbar geometry is related to complications of disc arthroplasty surgery. Accurate morphometric descriptions are essential for the design of artificial intervertebral discs to ensure good prothesis-vertebra contact and better load distribution, and can improve spinal biomechanics. Unfortunately, current knowledge of the lower lumbar geometry is limited either in the representativeness of sample populations or the accuracy and comprehensiveness of measurements.

Prediction models for the erector spinae muscle cross-sectional area.

Accurate and reliable "individualized" low back erector spinae muscle (ESM) data are of importance to estimate its force producing capacity. Knowing the force producing capacity, along with spinal loading, enhances the understanding of low back injury mechanisms. The objective of this study was to build regression models to estimate the ESM cross-sectional area (CSA).