Lifbak spinal load reduction exoskeleton commercialisation project report

<p>This research investigates the product and market development requirements forbuilding a medical device intended to assist patients rehabilitating from back injuries. It looks at the competitive landscape, potential customers segments, path to market, research and development requirements, and funding requirements. This document provides background research for the included business case which will be presented to my project partner, Lifbak. Lifbak is developing a device for customers seeking to accelerate their rehabilitation from a back injury.</p>

Lifbak spinal load reduction exoskeleton commercialisation project report

<p>This research investigates the product and market development requirements forbuilding a medical device intended to assist patients rehabilitating from back injuries. It looks at the competitive landscape, potential customers segments, path to market, research and development requirements, and funding requirements. This document provides background research for the included business case which will be presented to my project partner, Lifbak. Lifbak is developing a device for customers seeking to accelerate their rehabilitation from a back injury.</p>

A Biomechanical Waist Comfort Model for Manual Material Lifting

Low back pain (LBP) is a common disorder that affects the working population worldwide. LBP causes more disability than any other conditions all around the world. Most existing studies focus on the occupational physical factors in association with LBP, while few focus on individual factors, especially the lack of quantitative calculation of waist comfort in biomechanics. Based on the physical statistics of Chinese men, this research used human posture analysis (HPA) to establish the waist strength formula and analyzed the waist strength during a manual material handling. It also explored the influence of weight and height of lifting objects on the L5-S1 spinal load. On this basis, a waist comfort model was proposed in combination with the recommended weight limit (RWL) recommended by NIOSH, and the parameter selection and waist comfort value were verified by Jack simulation software. The results show that pulling force of the Erector Spinae of the waist is closely related to the weight and lifting height of the object. Parameter verification and Jack software simulation results show that the force of L5-S1 is less than 3400 N, which proves that the waist force under this posture is acceptable. The developed waist comfort model can be applied to evaluate work risk, to adjust working intensity and powered exoskeleton design, aiming to decrease the prevalence of LBP.

Perspectives on Spinal Precautions in Patients Who Have Cancer and Spinal Metastasis

Bones are the third most common site for cancer metastases, and the axial skeleton is the most frequent skeletal location. In a postmortem study, bone metastases were reported in 70% of breast and prostate cancer patients. Bone metastases from breast, lung, prostate, thyroid, and kidney cancers account for 80% of all bone metastases. Bone lesions exist in 60% of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients. With increasing numbers of people who have survived cancer, many patients with cancer and axial skeletal bony metastases will be seen by physical and occupational therapists. Guidelines are lacking on how to perform physical examinations and provide exercise programs for these patients without compromising the diseased spine. In this article, we discuss the available evidence for similar spinal conditions, the biomechanics of spinal load, and changes associated with posture and weight load. We provide recommendations on how to assess a patient’s strength, how to strengthen without compromising the diseased spine, and how to teach patients to use correct body mechanics during mobility and activities of daily living.

Prediction of the Spinal Musculoskeletal Loadings during Level Walking and Stair Climbing after Two Types of Simulated Interventions in Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation

Background. Low back pain (LBP) continues to be a severe global healthy problem, and a lot of patients would undergo conservative or surgical treatments. However, the improving capacity of spinal load sharing during activities of daily living (ADLs) after interventions is largely unknown. The objective of this study was to quantitatively predict the improvement of spinal musculoskeletal loadings during level walking and stair climbing after two simulated interventions. Material and Methods. Twenty-six healthy adults and seven lumbar disc herniation patients performed level walking and stair climbing in sequence. The spinal movement was recorded using a motion capture system. The experimental data were applied to drive a musculoskeletal model to calculate all the lumbar joint resultant forces and muscle activities of seventeen main trunk muscle groups. Rehabilitation and reconstruction were selected as the representative of conservative and surgical treatment, respectively. The spinal load sharing after rehabilitation and reconstruction was predicted by replacing the patients’ spine rhythm with healthy subjects’ spine rhythm and altering the center of rotation at the L5S1 level, respectively. Results. During both level walking and stair climbing, the joint resultant forces of the lower lumbar intervertebral discs were predicted to reduce after the two simulated inventions. In addition, the maximum muscle activities of the most trunk muscle groups decreased after simulated rehabilitation and conversely increased after simulated reconstruction. Conclusion. The predictions revealed the different compensatory responses on the spinal load sharing after two simulated interventions, severing as guidance for making preoperative planning and rehabilitation planning.

Effects of School Backpacks on Spine Biomechanics During Daily Activities: A Narrative Review of Literature

Objective The purpose of this narrative review is to summarize the effects of carrying school backpacks on spine and low-back biomechanics as a risk factor for low back pain in young individuals. Background Backpacks constitute a considerable daily load for schoolchildren. Consistently, a large number of children attribute their low back pain experience to backpack use. Method A literature search was conducted using a combination of keywords related to the impact of carrying backpacks on lower back biomechanics. The references of each identified study were further investigated to identify additional studies. Results Twenty-two studies met inclusion criteria. A total of 1,159 people aged 7 to 27 years were included in the studies. The added load of a backpack and the changes in spinal posture when carrying a backpack impose considerable demand on internal tissues and likely result in considerable spinal loads. The findings included results related to the effects of backpack weight and position on trunk kinematics and spine posture as well as trunk muscle activity during upright standing, walking, and ascending and descending stairs. Conclusion Backpack-induced changes in trunk kinematics for a given activity reflect alterations in mechanical demand of the activity on the lower back that should be balanced internally by the active and passive responses of lower back tissues. Although the reported alterations in trunk muscle activities and lumbar posture are indications of changes in the active and passive response of the lower back tissues, the resultant effects on spinal load, that is, an important causal factor for low back pain, remains to be investigated in the future. A knowledge of backpack-induced changes in spinal loads can inform design of interventions aimed at reduction of spinal load via improved backpack design or limitation on carrying duration. Application This narrative review is intended to serve as an educational article for students and trainees in ergonomics and occupational biomechanics.