On the relationship between whole-body vibration exposure and spinal health risk.

A conceptual framework provides the possibility to identify factors determining the effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) on the spine and the internal stress-strain relationships. Epidemiological studies were critically evaluated with respect to their significance for the derivation of quantitative exposure-effect relationships. The approach of deriving such relationships from a comparison with self-generated accelerations during daily activities was considered as unsuited. Trunk muscle activity and control with apparently identical accelerations of body parts during self-generated and forced motions differ widely. Simple biodynamic models coupled with experimental in vivo and in vitro data permitted a preliminary deduction of quantitative relationships between WBV and spinal health with the consideration of individual factors and exposure conditions. Examples of anatomy-based verified finite element models and their application are provided. Such models are considered as a very promising instrument. They can be used to assess quantitatively preventive measures and design. Future research needs concern the examination of (1) the nonlinearity of biodynamics, (2) the effects of WBV in x- and y-axes, (3) the strength of the spine for shear, (4) the contact parameters between the seat and man, (5) the significance of postures and muscle activity, and (6) material properties of spinal structures.

[1]  Paulien M. Bongers,et al.  Back disorders and whole-body vibration at work , 1990 .

[2]  A. Patwardhan,et al.  Load-Carrying Capacity of the Human Cervical Spine in Compression Is Increased Under a Follower Load , 2000, Spine.

[3]  H. Seidel.  Myoelectric reactions to ultra-low frequency and low-frequency whole body vibration , 2004, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[4]  W. Frobin,et al.  Quantification of overload injuries to thoracolumbar vertebrae and discs in persons exposed to heavy physical exertions or vibration at the workplace Part II Occurrence and magnitude of overload injury in exposed cohorts. , 1998, Clinical biomechanics.

[5]  D G Wilder,et al.  Epidemiological and aetiological aspects of low back pain in vibration environments - an update. , 1996, Clinical biomechanics.

[6]  H. Seidel,et al.  On time relation between erector spinae muscle activity and force development during initial isometric stage of back lifts. , 1989, Clinical biomechanics.

[7]  Michael J. Griffin,et al.  A comparison of standardized methods for predicting the hazards of whole-body vibration and repeated shocks , 1998 .

[8]  B. Meschkutat,et al.  Schriftenreihe der Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin , 2002 .

[9]  H. Dupuis,et al.  DOSE-RESPONSE Relationships Between Whole-Body Vibration and Lumbar Disk DISEASE—A Field Study on 388 Drivers of Different Vehicles , 1998 .

[10]  Barbara Hinz,et al.  Effects of sinusoidal whole-body vibration on the lumbar spine: the stress-strain relationship , 1986, International archives of occupational and environmental health.

[11]  H. Seidel,et al.  Long-term effects of whole-body vibration: a critical survey of the literature , 1986, International archives of occupational and environmental health.

[12]  P. Brinckmann,et al.  Prediction of the Compressive Strength of Human Lumbar Vertebrae , 1989, Spine.

[13]  J. Cholewicki,et al.  Stabilizing Function of Trunk Flexor‐Extensor Muscles Around a Neutral Spine Posture , 1997, Spine.

[14]  G R Fernie,et al.  Mechanical Response of the Lumbar Spine to Seated Postural Loads , 1997, Spine.

[15]  Gerhard Köhne,et al.  Ganzkörperschwingungen auf Erdbaumaschinen : Entwicklung geeigneter Dämpfungssysteme , 1982 .

[16]  B Hinz,et al.  Bidimensional accelerations of lumbar vertebrae and estimation of internal spinal load during sinusoidal vertical whole-body vibration: a pilot study. , 1988, Clinical biomechanics.

[17]  S. Pankoke,et al.  DYNAMIC FE MODEL OF SITTING MAN ADJUSTABLE TO BODY HEIGHT, BODY MASS AND POSTURE USED FOR CALCULATING INTERNAL FORCES IN THE LUMBAR VERTEBRAL DISKS , 1998 .

[18]  A. Thorstensson,et al.  Lumbar back muscle activity in relation to trunk movements during locomotion in man. , 1982, Acta physiologica Scandinavica.

[19]  Ralph Blüthner,et al.  MYOELECTRIC RESPONSE OF BACK MUSCLES TO VERTICAL RANDOM WHOLE-BODY VIBRATION WITH DIFFERENT MAGNITUDES AT DIFFERENT POSTURES , 2002 .

[20]  L. Claes,et al.  Importance of the Intersegmental Trunk Muscles for the Stability of the Lumbar Spine: A Biomechanical Study In Vitro , 1998, Spine.

[21]  Ralph Blüthner,et al.  Back muscle response to transient whole-body vibration , 1993 .

[22]  B Hinz,et al.  Application of finite-element models to predict forces acting on the lumbar spine during whole-body vibration. , 2001, Clinical biomechanics.

[23]  R L Waters,et al.  Electrical activity of muscles of the trunk during walking. , 1972, Journal of anatomy.

[24]  I. Stokes,et al.  Structural behavior of human lumbar spinal motion segments. , 2004, Journal of biomechanics.

[25]  R. Major.  Biomechanics of the Musculo-Skeletal System , 1994 .

[26]  M. Bovenzi,et al.  An updated review of epidemiologic studies on the relationship between exposure to whole-body vibration and low back pain (1986–1997) , 1999, International archives of occupational and environmental health.

[27]  J M Morris,et al.  An electromyographic study of the intrinsic muscles of the back in man. , 1962, Journal of anatomy.

[28]  Professor Dr. Heinrich Dupuis,et al.  The Effects of Whole-Body Vibration , 1986, Springer Berlin Heidelberg.

[29]  M J Griffin,et al.  Modelling the response of the spinal system to whole-body vibration and repeated shock. , 2001, Clinical biomechanics.

[30]  T Videman,et al.  The long-term effects of rally driving on spinal pathology. , 2000, Clinical biomechanics.

[31]  Coermann Rr,et al.  Human tolerance to whole body sinusoidal vibration. Short-time, one-minute and three-minute studies. , 1960 .

[32]  M. Griffin,et al.  A MODAL ANALYSIS OF WHOLE-BODY VERTICAL VIBRATION, USING A FINITE ELEMENT MODEL OF THE HUMAN BODY , 1997 .

[33]  J. Cholewicki,et al.  Effects of external trunk loads on lumbar spine stability. , 2000, Journal of biomechanics.

[34]  M Parnianpour,et al.  Load-bearing and stress analysis of the human spine under a novel wrapping compression loading. , 2000, Clinical biomechanics.

[35]  Ralph Blüthner,et al.  LABORATORY TESTING OF OPERATOR SEAT VIBRATION WITH 37 SUBJECTS—CRITICAL COMMENT ON ISO/DIS 7096 , 1998 .

[36]  Ralph Blüthner,et al.  Electromyography in Back Research — Assessment of Static and Dynamic Conditions , 1985 .

[37]  George Roddan,et al.  Development of a Standard for the Health Hazard Assessment of Mechanical Shock and Repeated Impact in Army Vehicles, Phase 3, Pilot Tests. , 1995 .

[38]  L Claes,et al.  Influence of a Follower Load on Intradiscal Pressure and Intersegmental Rotation of the Lumbar Spine , 2001, Spine.

[39]  J. Sandover.  The fatigue approach to vibration and health : Is it a practical and viable way of predicting the effects on people? , 1998 .

[40]  Barbara Hinz,et al.  EFFECTS RELATED TO RANDOM WHOLE-BODY VIBRATION AND POSTURE ON A SUSPENDED SEATWITH AND WITHOUT BACKREST , 2002 .

[41]  J. Hamill,et al.  Relationship between shock attenuation and stride length during running at different velocities , 2002, European Journal of Applied Physiology.

[42]  H E von Gierke,et al.  Whole body vibration , 2010 .

[43]  M Fritz,et al.  Description of the relation between the forces acting in the lumbar spine and whole-body vibrations by means of transfer functions. , 2000, Clinical biomechanics.

[44]  C. Leboeuf‐Yde,et al.  Whole-body vibration and low back pain: a systematic, critical review of the epidemiological literature 1992–1999 , 2000, International archives of occupational and environmental health.

[45]  Ralph Blüthner,et al.  Timing of Back Muscles during Whole-Body Vibration with Transients – Its Significance for the Internal Spinal Load , 1998 .

[46]  A. Patla,et al.  Low back three-dimensional joint forces, kinematics, and kinetics during walking. , 1999, Clinical biomechanics.

[47]  A Cappozzo,et al.  Low frequency self-generated vibration during ambulation in normal men. , 1982, Journal of biomechanics.

[48]  Bernhard Buck.  Modell für das Schwingungsverhalten des sitzenden Menschen mit detaillierter Abbildung der Wirbelsäule und Muskulatur im Lendenbereich , 1997 .

[49]  Michael J. Griffin,et al.  Handbook of Human Vibration , 1990 .

[50]  Michael J. Griffin,et al.  Whole-body vibration , 2001 .

[51]  Massimo Bovenzi,et al.  An Updated Review of Epidemiologic Studies on the Relationship Between Exposure to Whole-Body Vibration and Low Back Pain , 1998 .

[52]  R R COERMANN,et al.  Human tolerance to whole body sinusoidal vibration. Short-time, one-minute and three-minute studies. , 1960, Aerospace medicine.

[53]  Ralph Blüthner,et al.  ON THE HEALTH RISK OF THE LUMBAR SPINE DUE TO WHOLE-BODY VIBRATION—THEORETICAL APPROACH, EXPERIMENTAL DATA AND EVALUATION OF WHOLE-BODY VIBRATION , 1998 .

[54]  H. Seidel,et al.  Electromyographic evaluation of back muscle fatigue with repeated sustained contractions of different strengths , 2004, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[55]  B Hinz,et al.  Estimation of disc compression during transient whole-body vibration. , 1994, Clinical biomechanics.

[56]  H Seidel,et al.  Selected health risks caused by long-term, whole-body vibration. , 1993, American journal of industrial medicine.

[57]  A. Cappozzo,et al.  Compressive loads in the lumbar vertebral column during normal level walking , 1984, Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society.

[58]  T. Hansson,et al.  The Bone Mineral Content and Ultimate Compressive Strength of Lumbar Vertebrae , 1980, Spine.

[59]  Margareta Nordin,et al.  Basic Biomechanics of the Musculoskeletal Systm , 1989 .