title: Biomechanical testing of the spine. Load-controlled versus displacement-controlled analysis.
abstract: Mechanical testing of the spine can be carried out in either a load-controlled or a displacement-controlled manner. Each method requires certain assumptions and offers different advantages. Dr. W. Thomas Edwards believes that displacement-controlled testing most accurately reflects the in vivo environment, while Drs. Vijay Goel, David Wilder, and Malcolm Pope support the use of the load-controlled method as most logical and easily standardized.
authors.affiliation: Iowa Spine Research Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Wilder
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Pope
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013131:Spine / Q000502:physiology*; D016474:Weight-Bearing