BIOMECHANICAL MODELS FOR ESTIMATING LOADS AND INJURY RISK TO THE LUMBAR SPINE – A REVIEW

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The use of mathematical models to estimate tissue loads and injury risk to lumbar spine, and to provide insight into its function, has increased over the last 30 years. It is important to review model features because lumbar tissue loading predicted by these models forms the cornerstone for the development of lifting guidelines. The following brief review is an attempt to analyze underlying modeling philosophies and to interpret the output of a few spine models.