Behavior compensation reduces loads in the cervical spine measured with a force-sensing implant

Low back pain is growing health concern affecting 31 million Americans at any given time. Many of the risk factors for low back pain are mechanical in nature. Characterizing the axial loads, muscle recruitment, and behavior compensation during everyday motion an important step in minimizng the mechanical risk factors. The purpose of this study was to use an interbody implant to analyze the intradiscal forces in an in vivo model during everyday activities and to monitor the effect of behavior compensation on the resulting loads.