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| Vibration, Proprioception
and Low Back Stability: Vibration
has long been known to be a risk factor in low back
injuries. Truck drivers, tractor operators, helicopter
pilots and constructions workers are particularly
vulnerable. This research program examines the effect
of vibration, both whole-body and local muscle vibration,
on the proprioception and stability of the low back.
Local muscle vibration allows examination of the role
of the muscle spindle organs and particular muscle
groups in the overall propriopception and reflex response.
Whole-body vibration is used to emulate the occupation
situation, such as riding in a truck or operating
a jackhammer. To assess proprioception, a lumbar position
sense protocol is used to assess the subject's sensitivity
to changes in lumbar spine curvature. A sudden loading
protocol is used to examine low back stability. A
control feedback model has been created to demonstrate
the role change in proprioception might play in loss
of low back stability and risk of injury. |
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| Low Back Proprioceptive Measures:
Proprioception is the ability to be able to sense
the position and motion of a joint. Currently
a position sense measure is used to assess the
ability of a person to sense the low back flexion-extension
posture. New measures are currently being developed
to assess torsional position sense and velocity
sense. |
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