Six cadaver human spines (L1-L5) were loaded quasi-statically in bending and torsion, while an optical system measured the angular rotations of the individual motion segments. Subsequently, the polysegmental spines were divided into L2-L3 and L4-L5 segments and a shaker was used to vibrate the upper vertebra, while its response was obtained from accelerometers in anteroposterior and mediolateral directions. From the resulting frequency response function the eigenfrequencies (ratio between stiffness and mass) and vibration modes (pattern of motion) were determined.
The vibration results showed clear eigenfrequencies for flexion-extension (mean 121.83 Hz, SD 40.05 Hz), lateroflexion (mean 132.17, SD 34.80 Hz) and axial rotation (mean 236.17 Hz, SD 81.45 Hz). Furthermore, the correlation between static and dynamic tests was significant (r=0.73, p=0.01). In conclusion, the findings from this study show that experimental modal analysis is a valid method to assess the mechanical properties of human lumbar motion segments.