Tolerance of the Human Cervical Spine to High Acceleration: A Modeling Approach
Helleur C, Gracovetsky S, Farfan H.
Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine
55 : 903-909, 1984.
Abstract
A sagittal plane mathematical model for the cervical spine has been used to
simulate the neck's response to loads due to high acceleration. The model is capable of
simulating the muscular response of the cervical spine and the stress distribution between
the joint levels. In order to obtain conservative estimates of the maximum acceleration
that the neck can support, the neck was simulated using the assumption that the inertial
load is supported primarily by the muscles. It was found that accelerations of up to 30 g
can be supported with the appropriate posture and direction of acceleration. Estimates
were also obtained using experimental results to approximate the role that the ligaments
of the spine play in supporting the load. It was found that accelerations of up to 40 g
can be supported for the appropriate posture and acceleration direction.
