A mathematical model on the determination of stress on the cervical spine.

• Main Authors: Garcia, Rhonee Lynn S., Lugo, Marites E., Tamayo, Marie Cris F.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1999
• Subjects: Cervical vertebrae; Industrial Engineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/10315
• Institution: De La Salle University

The human spine is one of the most delicate parts of the human body. The posture and movement of an individual affect the spine by defining its motion and curvature. The human spine is divided into three different parts, namely: the cervical spine (neck region), the thoraic (midback region), and the lumbar area (lower back region). Each part represents a curve that moves in relation to the motion of the other parts. When an individual adopts a posture, the parts that are most affected are the cervical and lumbar spines. Although, the three curves are interconnected, unlike the midback region, spines in the neck region and the lower back area are not fixed to the rib cage. Thus, this allows the latter curves to move. The model was formulated using the principles of mechanisms and strength of materials. The stresses experienced on each of the disc are the stresses that an individual experiences during a particular posture. A numerical example was then used to validate the model. The model was validated further with the use of the RULA technique and with the comparison of the stress values with the stress threshold of the cervical spine. The results of the model were then compared with the results of the posture experiment to further validate the model.