Description of Research Program Address / Contact Recent Publications - go to CV
Ian A.F. Stokes, Ph.D.
Research Professor Emeritus
Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation
434 Stafford Hall,
Burlington, Vermont 05405-0084, USA
Phone : (802) 656-2250
Fax: (802) 656-4247
Description of Research Program Address / Contact Recent Publications - go to CV
This
work examines the idea that the spine might be 'self-injured' during
buckling events resulting from unstable equilibrium under the action
of muscular forces. Results to date confirm that muscular stiffness
(which depends on muscle activation) is required normally for
stability. Analytical modeling is used to determine conditions under
which the spine is at risk for such 'self-injury', and experimental
(EMG) measurements of human subjects are used to compare model
predictions with the theoretical predictions. This work also
involves experimental studies of the spinal motion segment stiffness
with axial preload. 
Experimental (animal) models are used to determine sensitivity of
growth plates in long bones and vertebrae to mechanical load.
Quantitative histology (fluorescent labelling, cellular morphology,
BrDU labelling, etc.) is used to investigate cellular responses
mechanical forces in growth plates of different species and
anatomical locations, having different base-line growth velocities.
This is combined with analytical determinations of the loading
asymmetry of vertebrae in spines with scoliosis in order to make a
predictive model of the progression of deformity. Results are
compared with clinical (radiographic) studies of patients during
the adolescent growth period.