Quantifying Intervertebral Disc Mechanics

Description: The neutral zone (NZ) is the range over which a spinal motion segment (SMS) moves with minimal resistance. Clear as this may seem, the various methods to quantify NZ described in the literature depend on rather arbitrary criteria. Here we present a stricter, more objective definition.
Conclusions: A strict mathematical definition of the NZ is proposed, based on the compliance of the SMS. This operational definition is objective, conceptually correct, and does not depend on arbitrarily chosen criteria.
Quantifying Intervertebral Disc Mechanics A New Definition of the Neutral Zone Theodoor H Smit; Manon SLM van Tunen; Albert J van der Veen; Idsart Kingma; Jaap H van Dieën Posted: 03/24/2011; BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2011;12 Full Text