ITEE seminar: Joshan Joy, 01.00PM, Tue 25 Feb 2003

Novel non invasive measures of abdominal muscular function in low back pain

Speaker: Joshan Joy, ITEE

When: 01.00PM, Tuesday 25 Feb 2003

Venue: 78-420

Host: Dr. Stephen Wilson

Abstract:

  The role of abdominal and pelvic muscles in back stability has
  recently been elucidated. The prediction of poor patterns of
  contraction in low back and abdominal muscles has been performed
  using ultrasound imaging. There is a need to integrate imaging of
  the deeper muscle layers (MRI) and surface electromyogram (SEMG)
  recordings. The models developed can then be applied to back pain
  management, sports applications and space medicine. These models
  find a good application in space medicine because astronauts going
  to space are more prone to develop back pain. This is because during
  spaceflight, the absence of gravity results in decreased use and
  reduced mechanical loading of the muscle system. As a result of the
  applications of these models in space medicine, the project is
  funded by European Space Agency, Berlin. Clearly ultrasound and MRI
  will not be applicable to field use of these models. So a reduced
  dataset consisting of surface tonometry readings and SEMG will be
  correlated with the MRI and ultrasound studies.  The project
  involves the designing, development and testing of such a monitoring
  system.

  For testing the monitoring system, an array of pressure sensors are
  applied anterior and posterior using a corset and the tubing is
  applied to a remote amplification unit. A MR compatible EMG
  amplifier is located as close as possible to the final electrode
  positions and it is coupled to remote monitoring equipment. A set of
  two such amplifiers will be employed for the study. A pneumatic
  pressure sensor array and EMG instrumentation is employed to reduce
  MR induced artefact and ensure patient safety within the MR
  system. There will be two phases for testing. In the first phase, a
  combination of surface EMG measures for internal and external
  oblique muscle, surface tonometric measurements using the newly
  designed pressure sensors, which will be placed adjacent to the ASIS
  and ultrasound imaging, will be done simultaneously for the relaxed
  abdominal wall (rest), normal contraction(draw-in) and bracing
  contraction. During the second phase, the ultrasound imaging will be
  replaced by MRI measures. All other measures will remain the same as
  in the first phase.

Biography:

(biography unavailable)

Type:

MPhil confirmation

Contact:

Dr. Stephen Wilson, seminar host (wilson@itee.uq.edu.au)
or Guido Governatori (ITEE seminar co-ordinator) (guido@itee.uq.edu.au)

ITEE seminar web page: http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~seminar

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