Lumbar posterior ligament involvement during extremely heavy lifts estimated from fluoroscopic measurements

doi:10.1016/0021-9290(92)90242-S

Journal of Biomechanics

Volume 25, Issue 1, January 1992, Pages 17-28

https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9290(92)90242-S Get rights and content

Abstract

The mechanical role of the lumbar posterior ligaments during lifting tasks remains controversial. This study was designed to assess the ligament and disc contribution in resisting trunk flexion moment during extremely heavy lifts performed by national class powerlifters. Direct measurements of lumbar vertebrae kinematics in sagittal plane were obtained from videofluoroscopy utilizing multiple digitizing, correction for optical distortions and digital filtering. Four experienced powerlifters executed three trials, resulting in about 72 mA s of total radiation exposure. In the first trial, joint angles were measured when subjects fully flexed their spines to a point where the passive tissues resisted the flexor moment creating myoelectric silence in the extensor musculature. Next, two conventional deadlift style lifts were executed with the barbell load ranging from 183.7 to 210.9 kg. Four vertebral corners were digitized at a sampling rate of 30 Hz. The relative intervertebral joint angles, distance between the ligament attachment points, shearing and compressive displacements were calculated from a rigid body motion approach.

Analysis revealed that except for one trial of one subject, they accomplished their lifts with an amount of lumbar flexion between 1.5 and 13° less than they demonstrated during full flexion. Resultant ligament lengths at the beginning of the lifts ranged from 56.1 to 99.8% of their lengths when the trunk was fully flexed. It was concluded that ligaments did not strain sufficiently to contribute substantial resistance to the trunk flexion moment, relegating this responsibility to the musculature.

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Lumbar posterior ligament involvement during extremely heavy lifts estimated from fluoroscopic measurements

Abstract

Clin. Biomech.

Clin. Biomech.

J. biomed. Engng

Orthop. Clin. North Am.

J. biomed. Engng

J. Biomechanics

J. Biomechanics

J. Biomechanics

J. Biomechanics

J. Biomechanics

Clin. Biomech.

J. Biomechanics

Prolapsed intervertebral disc—a hyperflexion injury

Spine

The effect of posture on the lumbar spine

J. Bone Jt Surg.

The resistance to flexion of the lumbar intervertebral joint

Spine

Stability of the lumbar spine. A study in mechanical engineering

Acta orthop. scand.

Stress and strain of human lumbar discs

Clin. Biomech.

Prediction of the compressive strength of human lumbar vertebrae

Clin. Biomech.

Postural biomechanical stability and gross muscular architecture in the spine