title: Axial unloading therapy device for cervical spine rehabilitation.
abstract: There is an ongoing need for therapeutic cervical traction to treat chronic idiopathic neck pain. A device was designed to perform low-load cervical traction (unloading) with the patient in an upright, seated, neutral spine position. A prototype device meeting these requirements was constructed. During subsequent use, several methods for assessing the outcome of such unloading were proposed, including radiographic images, cervical range-of-motion measurements and muscle EMG activity. The prototype and measurement methods were tested on a population of normal subjects. The results demonstrated that the device design is safe and effectively transfers load into the occipital region of the skull. The use of low-load cervical unloading induced lateral rotation and posterior lengthening of the spine. Device refinements were identified. The results demonstrated that the methods described may be safely employed on a patient population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hilse
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Erdman
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Iaizzo
mesh_terms: D001831:Body Temperature; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012016:Reference Values; D014143:Traction / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*