ARUP; ISBN: 978-0-9562121-5-3 - CMBBE 2012 - Cardiff University

ANALYSIS OF HUMAN SPINAL CURVATURE FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF PATIENT-MADE SPINAL TRACTION
1. ABSTRACT
S.B. Oh 1 , S.J. Park 2 and M. Subramaniyam 3
Back pain with 70-80 % of the population suffers at least once during their lifetime, and
is a very common symptom. The back pain frequency is increasing due to busy business
and lifestyle. Most of the back pain related with disc has been treated without surgery or
by rehabilitation therapy such as spinal traction stage. This paper explains the
development of the spinal traction guideline using Korean lumbar shape and character.
This study focused on the development of intelligent spinal traction by developing
spinal tractor using Korean lumbar spinal shape and its characteristics. The three
dimensional (3D) Korean spinal shapes has been captured using 3D scanner and
analyzed for the curvature. For safer spinal traction pathway, the spinal shape templates
have been created by considering Korean lumbar shape characteristics. The traction rule
has been developed by using back strength, electromyography and character. It is
possible to produce and change the template and it shapes by applying human body
dimensions and measures. Moreover, the traction could be produced in domestic as well
as international industry.
2. INTRODUCTION
The human spinal cord consists of nerves that connect the brain to nerves in the body. It
is a superhighway for messages between the brain and the rest of the body. It is clear
that the brain and spinal cord are critical to the survival and health of the individual.
Protecting them is absolutely vital. The spinal column is an elaborate “tunnel” of small,
interlocking bones slightly curved in the shape of the letter “S”. It is flexible enough to
allow the body to twist and bend, but study enough to protect the spinal cord. The spinal
cord is surrounded for most of its length by the bones such as vertebrae that form the
spine [1, 2]. Human spine as a load bearing structure consists of intervertebral discs,
vertebras and supporting muscles and ligaments. Each of these plays a very important
role in the stability of the back, and in general any abnormal conditions may cause low
back pain (LBP). The LBP and related disorders may arise from the wide range of
motion in the lumbar spine, improper posture during the lifting of heavy objects, or
maintaining an irregular posture for a long period of time [3, 4]. About two-thirds of the
adult population suffers from LBP at some time [5, 6]. From the viewpoint of disorder’s
incidence, labor loss, and cost, work-related LBP is a very important occupational
1
Research Scientist, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, 1 Doryong-Dong, Yuseong-Gu,
Daejeon 305-340, Rep. of Korea
2
Director, Division of Convergence Technology, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, 1
Doryong-Dong, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon 305-340, Rep. of Korea
3
Research Scientist, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, 1 Doryong-Dong, Yuseong-Gu,
Daejeon 305-340, Rep. of Korea