Control of Different FEM Based Musculoskeletal Models of Human Lumbar Spine Under Different Loading Conditions Using Optimization Method

In this study the effects of using different musculoskeletal models on load-displacement behavior of FE models of the human lumbar spine under external loads and moments have been analyzed in terms of equilibrium and clinical stability. A simplified and a complex architecture of muscles have been integrated to FE based models of lumbar spine and were loaded to simulate the load carrying behavior of human lumbar spine in flexion, extension and lateral bending. The displacement values as well as muscle forces have been computed and compared in both cases using optimization methods with different cost functions. The models showed similar kinematics in pure flexion but the simplified model showed instability in flexion-lateral bending and pure lateral bending conditions. The complex model was loaded and analyzed with different cost function and it was observed that displacements in the model are lower while the angle between the load vector and spine curvature at each level is minimized. It was shown that the model is less stable in case an asymmetric loading condition is applied.