Development of a Novel Translational Model of Vibration Injury to the Spine to Study Acute Injury
Abstract
There is currently little mechanistic data defining the relationship between whole body or spine vibration, physiology and pain. Considering that pain is tremendous problem, we have developed an in vivo model to study how vibration produces chronic pain and the associated effects on tissues and pain cascades. Studies to date have revealed that even 30 minutes of daily vibration for only 7 days is sufficient to induce significant widespread pain that is sustained following the termination of vibration. Moreover, a single day of exposure also induces sensitivity, but the extent of the pain response depends on the frequency of the vibration exposure. Vibration at the resonance frequency of 8 Hz induces pain that lasts for at least 2 weeks, while at 15 Hz it is only transient and recovers by 7 days. This suggests that the exposure periods can drive the pain response and that the duration of the rest-perido that is necessary for symptom recovery depends on specific injury conditions. Similar assays of the tissue responses follow the pain symptoms and recent serum biomarker studies provide a potential readout for injury. Together, all of these findings have tremendous implications for both sub-failure spinal injury and pain. They also establish a strong foundation for the remaining studies including additional exposures and defining the time course of the onset and/or resolution of the physiological responses in a host of tissues including muscle, joints, bones, and brain. Continued investigations in these areas, as well as in the mathematical models we have begun to establish will integrate findings across all tasks of this work.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA594375
Entities
People
- Beth A. Winkelstein
Organizations
- University of Pennsylvania