The Effect of Whole Body Vibration on Position Sense and Dynamic Low Back Stability

The objective of the current study was to investigate how position sense and sudden loading dynamics are altered with occupational vibration exposure. Seventeen subjects participated in the study. Both position sense measures and sudden loading dynamics measures were performed before, instant after, 15 minutes after and 30 minutes after exposure to 5 Hz and 0.223 m/s² whole body vibration. The results included increased absolute reposition errors after vibration suggesting decreased proprioceptive acuity to perceive position. Sudden loading response time was shown to increase after the vibration demonstrating that the spine was potentially destabilized. Increased torso flexion and lumbar curvature deflection after sudden loading were also observed after vibration exposure. This also suggested decreased stability of the lumbar spine. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude occupational vibration associated proprioceptive changes can lead to delayed reflex response resulting in instability of the lumbar spine. This work was supported by Whitaker Foundation Biomedical Engineering Research RG-03-0043.

Year	Entry
1992	Panjabi MM. The stabilizing system of the spine, I: function, dysfunction, adaptation, and enhancement. J Spinal Disord. December 1992;5(4):383-389.
1999	Cholewicki J, Juluru K, McGill SM. Intra-abdominal pressure mechanism for stabilizing the lumbar spine. J Biomech. January 1999;32(1):13-17.
1996	Cholewicki J, McGill SM. Mechanical stability of the in vivo lumbar spine: implications for injury and chronic low back pain. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). January 1996;11(1):1-15.
1989	Fairley TE, Griffin MJ. The apparent mass of the seated human body: vertical vibration. J Biomech. 1989;22(2):81-94.
1998	Kitazaki S, Griffin MJ. Resonance behaviour of the seated human body and effects of posture. J Biomech. February 1998;31(2):143-149.
1988	Bongers PM, Boshuizen HC, Hulshof CTJ, Koemeester AP. Back disorders in crane operators exposed to whole-body vibration. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. February 1988;60(2):129-137.
1989	Seroussi RE, Wilder DG, Pope MH. Trunk muscle electromyography and whole body vibration. J Biomech. 1989;22(3):219-229.
1962	Coermann RR. The mechanical impedance of the human body in sitting and standing position at low frequencies. Hum Factors. October 1962;4(5):227-253.
1989	Bergmark A. Stability of the lumbar spine: a study in mechanical engineering. Acta Orthop Scand. 1989;60(suppl 230):1-54.
1990	White AA III, Panjabi MM. Clinical Biomechanics of the Spine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lippincott Company; 1990.
1964	Nachemson A, Morris JM. In vivo measurements of intradiscal pressure: discometry, a method for the determination of pressure in the lower lumbar discs. J Bone Joint Surg. July 1964;46A(5):1077-1092.
1966	Nachemson A. The load on lumbar disks in different positions of the body. Clin Orthop Relat Res. March–March 1966;45:107-122.
1997	Zimmermann CL, Cook TM. Effects of vibration frequency and postural changes on human responses to seated whole-body vibration exposure. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. March 1997;69(3):165-179.
1991	Crisco JJ III, Panjabi MM. The intersegmental and multisegmental muscles of the lumbar spine: a biomechanical model comparing lateral stabilizing potential. Spine. July 1991;16(7):793-799.
1982	Panjabi MM, Goel VK, Takata K. Physiologic strains in the lumbar spinal ligaments: an in vitro biomechanical study. Spine. May 1982;7(3):192-203.
1996	Magnusson ML, Pope MH, Wilder DG, Areskoug B. Are occupational drivers at an increased risk for developing musculoskeletal disorders? Spine. March 15, 1996;21(6):710-717.

Year

Entry

1992

Panjabi MM. The stabilizing system of the spine, I: function, dysfunction, adaptation, and enhancement. J Spinal Disord. December 1992;5(4):383-389.

1999

Cholewicki J, Juluru K, McGill SM. Intra-abdominal pressure mechanism for stabilizing the lumbar spine. J Biomech. January 1999;32(1):13-17.

1996

Cholewicki J, McGill SM. Mechanical stability of the in vivo lumbar spine: implications for injury and chronic low back pain. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). January 1996;11(1):1-15.

1989

Fairley TE, Griffin MJ. The apparent mass of the seated human body: vertical vibration. J Biomech. 1989;22(2):81-94.

1998

Kitazaki S, Griffin MJ. Resonance behaviour of the seated human body and effects of posture. J Biomech. February 1998;31(2):143-149.

1988

Bongers PM, Boshuizen HC, Hulshof CTJ, Koemeester AP. Back disorders in crane operators exposed to whole-body vibration. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. February 1988;60(2):129-137.

1989

Seroussi RE, Wilder DG, Pope MH. Trunk muscle electromyography and whole body vibration. J Biomech. 1989;22(3):219-229.

1962

Coermann RR. The mechanical impedance of the human body in sitting and standing position at low frequencies. Hum Factors. October 1962;4(5):227-253.

1989

Bergmark A. Stability of the lumbar spine: a study in mechanical engineering. Acta Orthop Scand. 1989;60(suppl 230):1-54.

1990

White AA III, Panjabi MM. Clinical Biomechanics of the Spine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lippincott Company; 1990.

1964

Nachemson A, Morris JM. In vivo measurements of intradiscal pressure: discometry, a method for the determination of pressure in the lower lumbar discs. J Bone Joint Surg. July 1964;46A(5):1077-1092.

1966

Nachemson A. The load on lumbar disks in different positions of the body. Clin Orthop Relat Res. March–March 1966;45:107-122.

1997

Zimmermann CL, Cook TM. Effects of vibration frequency and postural changes on human responses to seated whole-body vibration exposure. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. March 1997;69(3):165-179.

1991

Crisco JJ III, Panjabi MM. The intersegmental and multisegmental muscles of the lumbar spine: a biomechanical model comparing lateral stabilizing potential. Spine. July 1991;16(7):793-799.

1982

Panjabi MM, Goel VK, Takata K. Physiologic strains in the lumbar spinal ligaments: an in vitro biomechanical study. Spine. May 1982;7(3):192-203.

1996

Magnusson ML, Pope MH, Wilder DG, Areskoug B. Are occupational drivers at an increased risk for developing musculoskeletal disorders? Spine. March 15, 1996;21(6):710-717.

Year	Entry
2014	Phillips MP. The Effects of Body Armor on Lower Back and Knee Biomechanics During Basic and Military Inspired Tasks [PhD thesis]. Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas; 2014.
2015	Craig TD. Investigating Occupational Factors Linked to Back Pain: Repetitive Lifting Strategies and a Method for Examining Effects of Vibration [PhD thesis]. Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas; 2015.

Year

Entry

2014

Phillips MP. The Effects of Body Armor on Lower Back and Knee Biomechanics During Basic and Military Inspired Tasks [PhD thesis]. Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas; 2014.

2015

Craig TD. Investigating Occupational Factors Linked to Back Pain: Repetitive Lifting Strategies and a Method for Examining Effects of Vibration [PhD thesis]. Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas; 2015.