Using Motion Analysis Techniques and Musculoskeletal Modeling of the Spine to Better Understand Spinal Disorders and Evaluate Treatment Effects

The pathomechanics of many musculoskeletal spinal disorders are still poorly understood, which makes it challenging to develop and apply effective preventive strategies, treatment modalities and rehabilitation plans. Moreover, the outcomes of currently practiced care pathways are usually evaluated through clinical tests, medical imaging or questionnaires, whereas the effects on the functional dynamics of the spine remain largely unknown. Musculoskeletal (MSK) modeling and simulations represent an attractive approach to non-invasively investigate the relationships between spinal structure and function in terms of position/motion and internal biomechanical loading. Within the past decade, several MSK models of the thoracolumbar spine with different levels of detail were presented. However, most of these models are based on generic morphologic properties and few modeling studies incorporate subject-specific properties, specific spinal disorders, and/or measurement of spinal motion in patients. Similarly, a number of studies have sought to use methods such as optical motion capture or IMU-based motion analysis to measure spinal motion, but few studies have examined the effects of spinal disorders or treatments.

The goal of this Research Topic is to advance the study of the mechanics of disease onset and progression in spinal disorders, as well as the evaluation of the effects of currently practiced conservative and surgical treatments on the functional dynamics of the spine. This could take place through studies in appropriate patient populations by means of spinal motion analysis, MSK modeling and simulation, or other novel approaches. Original Research studies should thereby be based on detailed analysis of spinal motion, MSK models with a detailed spine (or at least the spinal region of interest, e.g. lumbar spine), or both. Studies should report on motion analysis and/or model accuracy by validation studies and/or sensitivity analyses (if not previously validated).

This Research Topic covers Original Research, Systematic Reviews, Brief Research Reports and Perspective articles aiming at the following (or closely related) themes:

• Changes in spinal motion, muscle activation and/or spinal loading resulting from various spinal disorders including (but not limited to) specific or non-specific back pain, spinal deformities (e.g. scoliosis), degenerative spinal disorders as well as inflammatory and tumor-related conditions.
• Biomechanical factors related to disease progression
• Identifying biomechanical risk factors for prediction of spinal disorders
• Effects of current conservative and surgical treatment interventions
• Relationship between biomechanical factors and clinical outcomes
• Implementation of biomechanical assessments into clinical practice using e.g. wearable sensors or AI-based video analysis

Prof. Lennart Scheys reports grants and/or personal fees from Medtronic, Depuy-Synthes, Zimmer-Biomet, Medacta International and V!GO NV. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.