Lumbar muscle atrophy and increased relative intramuscular lipid concentration are not mitigated by daily artificial gravity after 60-day head-down tilt bedrest

Exposure to axial unloading induces adaptations in paraspinal muscles, as shown after spaceflights. This study investigated whether daily exposure to artificial gravity (AG) mitigated lumbar spine flattening and muscle atrophy associated with 60-day head-down tilt (HDT) bed rest (Earth-based space analogue). Twenty-four healthy individuals participated in the study: Eight received 30 minutes continuous AG; eight received 6x5 minutes AG, interspersed with rest periods; eight received no AG exposure (control group). Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the lumbopelvic region was conducted at baseline (BDC) and at day 59 of HDT (HDT59). T1-weighted images were used to assess morphology of the lumbar spine (spinal length, intervertebral disc angles, disc area) and volumes of the lumbar multifidus (LM), lumbar erector spinae (LES), quadratus lumborum (QL), and psoas major (PM) muscles from L1/L2 to L5/S1 vertebral levels. A chemical shift-based 2‐point lipid/water Dixon sequence was used to evaluate muscle composition. Results showed that: spinal length and disc area increased (P<0.05); intervertebral disc angles (P<0.05) and muscle volumes of LM, LES, and QL reduced (P<0.01); and fat/water ratio for the LM and LES muscles increased (P<0.01) after HDT59 in all groups. Neither of the AG protocols mitigated the lumbar spinal deconditioning induced by HDT bed rest. The increase in lipid/water ratio in LM and LES muscles indicates an increased relative intramuscular lipid concentration. Altered muscle composition in atrophied muscles may impair lumbar spine function after body unloading, which could increase injury risk to vulnerable soft tissues. This relationship needs further investigation.

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Gluteal Muscle Atrophy and Increased Intramuscular Lipid Concentration Are Not Mitigated by Daily Artificial Gravity Following 60-Day Head-Down Tilt Bed Rest

Frontiers in Physiology ◽

10.3389/fphys.2021.745811 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Vienna Tran ◽

Enrico De Martino ◽

Julie Hides ◽

Gordon Cable ◽

James M. Elliott ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hip Joint ◽

Gluteus Maximus ◽

Gluteus Medius ◽

Bed Rest ◽

Artificial Gravity ◽

Control Group ◽

Joint Stability ◽

Lipid Concentration ◽

Gluteal Muscle ◽

Intramuscular Lipid

Exposure to spaceflight and head-down tilt (HDT) bed rest leads to decreases in the mass of the gluteal muscle. Preliminary results have suggested that interventions, such as artificial gravity (AG), can partially mitigate some of the physiological adaptations induced by HDT bed rest. However, its effect on the gluteal muscles is currently unknown. This study investigated the effects of daily AG on the gluteal muscles during 60-day HDT bed rest. Twenty-four healthy individuals participated in the study: eight received 30 min of continuous AG; eight received 6 × 5 min of AG, interspersed with rest periods; eight belonged to a control group. T1-weighted Dixon magnetic resonance imaging of the hip region was conducted at baseline and day 59 of HDT bed rest to establish changes in volumes and intramuscular lipid concentration (ILC). Results showed that, across groups, muscle volumes decreased by 9.2% for gluteus maximus (GMAX), 8.0% for gluteus medius (GMED), and 10.5% for gluteus minimus after 59-day HDT bed rest (all p < 0.005). The ILC increased by 1.3% for GMAX and 0.5% for GMED (both p < 0.05). Neither of the AG protocols mitigated deconditioning of the gluteal muscles. Whereas all gluteal muscles atrophied, the ratio of lipids to intramuscular water increased only in GMAX and GMED muscles. These changes could impair the function of the hip joint and increased the risk of falls. The deconditioning of the gluteal muscles in space may negatively impact the hip joint stability of astronauts when reexpose to terrestrial gravity.

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Increase in lumbar spine bone density during bed-rest and relationship to paraspinal muscle atrophy

Bone ◽

10.1016/j.bone.2009.01.220 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

pp. S101

Author(s):

D.L. Belavy ◽

G. Armbrecht ◽

C.A. Richardson ◽

J.A. Hides ◽

D. Felsenberg

Keyword(s):

Lumbar Spine ◽

Bone Density ◽

Muscle Atrophy ◽

Bed Rest ◽

Paraspinal Muscle

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Mechanical vibrations reduce the Intervertebral Disc swelling and muscle atrophy from Bed Rest

2007 IEEE 33rd Annual Northeast Bioengineering Conference ◽

10.1109/nebc.2007.4413262 ◽

2007 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nilsson Holguin ◽

Jesse Muir ◽

Harlan J. Evans ◽

Qin Yi-Xian ◽

Clinton Rubin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intervertebral Disc ◽

Muscle Atrophy ◽

Bed Rest ◽

Mechanical Vibrations

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No effect of artificial gravity on lung function with exercise training during head-down bed rest

International Journal of Astrobiology ◽

10.1017/s1473550415000294 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Longxiang Su ◽

Yinghua Guo ◽

Yajuan Wang ◽

Delong Wang ◽

Changting Liu

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Pulse Rate ◽

Vital Capacity ◽

Pulmonary Ventilation ◽

Bed Rest ◽

Forced Expiratory Volume ◽

Observation Time ◽

Artificial Gravity ◽

Postural Changes ◽

Expiratory Flow

AbstractTo explore the effectiveness of microgravity simulated by head-down bed rest (HDBR) and artificial gravity (AG) with exercise on lung function. Twenty-four volunteers were randomly divided into control and exercise countermeasure (CM) groups for 96 h of 6° HDBR. Comparisons of pulse rate, pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) and lung function were made between these two groups at 0, 24, 48, 72, 96 h. Compared with the sitting position, inspiratory capacity and respiratory reserve volume were significantly higher than before HDBR (0° position) (P< 0.05). Vital capacity, expiratory reserve volume, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, forced inspiratory vital capacity, forced inspiratory volume in 1 s, forced expiratory flow at 25, 50 and 75%, maximal mid-expiratory flow and peak expiratory flow were all significantly lower than those before HDBR (P< 0.05). Neither control nor CM groups showed significant differences in the pulse rate, SpO2, pulmonary volume and pulmonary ventilation function over the HDBR observation time. Postural changes can lead to variation in lung volume and ventilation function, but a HDBR model induced no changes in pulmonary function and therefore should not be used to study AG CMs.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of The anatomical basis for low back pain. Studies on the presence of sensory nerve endings in ligamentous, capsular and intervertebral disc structures in the human lumbar spine.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.726427730.793519836 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Massimo Allegri

Keyword(s):

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Lumbar Spine ◽

Intervertebral Disc ◽

Sensory Nerve ◽

Nerve Endings ◽

Low Back ◽

Sensory Nerve Endings ◽

Anatomical Basis ◽

Human Lumbar Spine

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A Scoring System for Anterior Longitudinal Ligament Ossification of the Lumbar Spine in Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis: Relationship Between the Extent of Ligament Ossification and the Range of Motion

Global Spine Journal ◽

10.1177/2192568221996681 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 219256822199668

Author(s):

Yusuke Murakami ◽

Tadao Morino ◽

Masayuki Hino ◽

Hiroshi Misaki ◽

Hiroshi Imai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lumbar Spine ◽

Intervertebral Disc ◽

Range Of Motion ◽

Scoring System ◽

Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis ◽

Disc Height ◽

Rater Reliability ◽

Canal Stenosis ◽

Intervertebral Disc Height ◽

The Relationship

Study Design: Retrospective observational study. Objective: To investigate the relationship between the extent of ligament ossification and the range of motion (ROM) of the lumbar spine and develop a new scoring system. Methods: Forty-three patients (30 men and 13 women) with lumbar spinal canal stenosis who underwent decompression from January to December 2018. Ligament ossification at L1/2 to L5/S was assessed on plain X-ray (Xp) and computed tomography (CT) using a modified Mata scoring system (0 point: no ossification, 1 point: ossification of less than half of the intervertebral disc height, 2 points: ossification of half or more of the intervertebral disc height, 3 points: complete bridging), and the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the scoring was assessed. The relationship of the scores with postoperative lumbar ROM was investigated. Result: Intra-rater reliability was high (Cronbach’s α was 0.74 for L5/S on Xp but 0.8 or above for other sections), as was inter-rater reliability (Cronbach’s α was 0.8 or above for all the segments). ROM significantly decreased as the score increased (scores 1 to 2, and 2 to 3). A significant moderate negative correlation was found between the sum of the scores at L1/2-L5/S and the ROM at L1-S (ρ = − 0.4493, P = 0.025). Conclusion: Our scoring system reflects lumbar mobility and is reproducible. It is effective for assessing DISH in fractures and spinal conditions, and monitoring effects on treatment outcomes and changes over time.

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Intraspinal Cyst Communicating With the Intervertebral Disc in the Lumbar Spine

Spine ◽

10.1097/00007632-200110010-00014 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 26 (19) ◽

pp. 2112-2118 ◽

Cited By ~ 112

Author(s):

Kazuhiro Chiba ◽

Yoshiaki Toyama ◽

Morio Matsumoto ◽

Hirofumi Maruiwa ◽

Masahiko Watanabe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lumbar Spine ◽

Intervertebral Disc ◽

Intraspinal Cyst

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Lumbar spine intervertebral disc desiccation is associated with medical comorbidities linked to systemic inflammation

Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery ◽

10.1007/s00402-021-04194-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mark J. Lambrechts ◽

Chase Pitchford ◽

Daniel Hogan ◽

Jinpu Li ◽

Casey Fogarty ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lumbar Spine ◽

Intervertebral Disc ◽

Systemic Inflammation ◽

Medical Comorbidities

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Experimentally Validated Computational Simulation of Lumbar Spine Intervertebral Disc Puncture

Volume 2: Biomedical and Biotechnology Engineering; Nanoengineering for Medicine and Biology ◽

10.1115/imece2011-62447 ◽

2011 ◽

Author(s):

Kristen E. Lipscomb ◽

Nesrin Sarigul-Klijn

Keyword(s):

Back Pain ◽

Lumbar Spine ◽

Intervertebral Disc ◽

Nucleus Pulposus ◽

Chronic Back Pain ◽

Medical Condition ◽

Computational Simulation ◽

Element Model ◽

Before And After ◽

Spine Model

Back pain is a debilitating medical condition, often with an unclear source. Over time, back pain can affect the work and lifestyle of an individual by reducing job productivity and time spent on enjoyable activities. Discography of the intervertebral disc (IVD) is often used to diagnose pathology of the disc and determine if it may be a source for chronic back pain. It has recently been suggested that discography may lead to IVD degeneration, and has been a cause of controversy among spine care physicians. Using the results from a cadaveric experimental model, a finite element model was first validated. Then, a study was conducted to better understand the changes caused by discography on human spine mechanics. An anatomically accurate L3-L5 lumbar spine model was developed using computed tomography scans. Discography was simulated in the model as an area in the disc affected by needle puncture. The material properties in the nucleus pulposus were adjusted to match experimental data both before and after puncture. The results show that puncture of the IVD leads to increased deformation as well as increased stresses in the disc. Pressure in the nucleus pulposus found to decrease after puncture, and was calculated in the course of this study. Puncturing the IVD changes disc mechanics and may lead to progressive spine issues in the future such as disc degeneration. While discography has been the gold standard to determine if the disc was a source of back pain in patients for many years, the potential long-term degenerative effects of the procedure are only now coming into light, and must be closely examined.

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