title: Asymmetrical loads and lateral bending of the human spine.
abstract: The human spine is modelled as a cantilever-type beam column. Under the influence of static asymmetrical loads, muscle and low-back forces are predicted from a hypothetical but revealing model. Such forces produced by asymmetrical loads are much larger than for a corresponding symmetrical load. Asymmetrical loads can encourage, especially in young schoolchildren, lateral bending of the spine by alleviating muscle and low-back forces. This could possibly be a factor contributing to the surprisingly high percentage of schoolchildren with measurable scoliotic curves. The wearing of knapsack-type bags is advocated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Noone
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mazumdar
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Ghista
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Tansley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D013131:Spine / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology