- My
research focuses on spine biomechanics.
One
important mechanical function of the human spine is to support the
compressive and shearing forces that arise during the performance of
everyday activities. In isolation, the osteoligamentous spine is a
flexible structure that will buckle under loads much smaller than
the weights of the respective body segments it is supporting. The
spine is stabilized by surrounding muscles, much like guy wires
stabilize a bridge or a telecommunication tower.-
- My
current research focuses on muscle function in the lumbar spine in
relation to clinical instability. Using electromyography and
biomechanical modeling, we are comparing muscle co-activation in
healthy volunteers with that of patients suffering from low back
pain with no clear pathoanatomic diagnosis.
-
- We
are also studying the role of intra-abdominal pressure and the
function of abdominal belts in heavy lifting.
-
- There
is widespread use of abdominal belts in industry and rehabilitation
programs, but there is no explanation why the increased
intra-abdominal pressure caused by wearing the belt would be
beneficial to the lumbar spine. Our hypothesis is that increased
intra-abdominal pressure stiffens abdominal musculature
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- Selected
Publications
"Impaired postural control of the lumbar spine is associated
with delayed muscle response times in patients with chronic
idiopathic low back pain," A. Radebold, J. Cholewicki, G.K.
Polzhofer, and H.S. Greene, Spine, 26(7), 724-730
(2001).
"Lumbar
spine stability can be augmented with an abdominal belt and/or
increased intra-abdominal pressure," J. Cholewicki, K. Juluru,
A/ Radebold, M.M. Panjabi, and S.M McGil, Eur. Spine J., 8(5),
388-395 (1999).
"Stabilizing
function of trunk flexor/extensor muscles around a neutral spine
posture," J. Cholewicki, M.M. Panjabi, and A. Khachatryan, Spine,
22(19), 2207-2212 (1997).
"Mechanical
stability of the in vivo lumbar spine: Implications for injury and
chronic low back pain," J. Cholewicki and S.M. McGill, Clin.
Biomech., 11(1), 1-15 (1996).
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