Ligaments: a source of musculoskeletal disorders.
The mechanical and neurological properties of ligaments are reviewed and updated with recent development from the perspective which evaluates their role as a source of neuromusculoskeletal disorders resulting from exposure to sports and occupational activities. Creep, tension-relaxation, hysteresis, sensitivity to strain rate and strain/load frequency were shown to result not only in mechanical functional degradation but also in the development of sensory-motor disorders with short- and long-term implication on function and disability. The recently exposed relationships between collagen fibers, applied mechanical stimuli, tissue micro-damage, acute and chronic inflammation and neuromuscular disorders are delineated with special reference to sports and occupational stressors such as load duration, rest duration, work/rest ratio, number of repetitions of activity and velocity of movement.
Solomonow
Moshe
M
Musculoskeletal Disorders Research Laboratory, Bioengineering Division, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Colorado-Denver Health Sciences Center, 12800 E. 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. moshe.solomonow@uchsc.edu