Project description
During daily activities we move our spine in complex ways. It is unknown whether we move in position control (i.e. to reach a certain target rotation/displacement), or in load control (i.e. to reach a target moment/force), or in a combination of both. During multiaxial load control the disc segment is able to move about its natural centre of rotation, where the centre of rotation floats™ and is not fixed. In pure position control the centre of rotation is fixed, which also causes off-axis coupling forces and moments to be created. The resulting load-displacement curves between the two control modes may differ and cause different motion paths and energy absorption. Comparison of pure position, load and hybrid controls is required to understand the likely control strategies of the spine, which can then be used to ensure more-physiological loading for clinically relevant evaluation of implant performance.
Supervisors research focus
My program of research aims to understand the fundamental multiscale properties of normal, degenerated and injured spinal discs, and their mechanisms of failure, and to develop medical devices to treat these problems. Low back pain is ranked globally as the greatest contributor to the number of years lived with disability, and is the number one contributor to the non-fatal health burden in Australia. Injury to the disc can occur through awkward lifting postures or propagate over many years of repetitive lifting. In both cases, the disc can herniate (aka 'slipped disc') causing radiating nerve pain and disability. We use a range of equipment including a unique, world-leading six axis hexapod robot, a single axis materials fatigue testing system and a biaxial system for testing microscale portions of biological tissues. We also use scanning electron microscopy to visualise the micro/nano-scale structure of disc tissue to understand mechanisms of failure.
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