Biomechanical Study of Lever Positioning Manipulation on Scoliosis

Official title

Biomechanical Parameter Quantification and Finite Element Simulation of Lever Positioning Manipulation in Patients With Thoracolumbar Scoliosis

Overview

Research background Scoliosis is a common three-dimensional spinal deformity, especially in adolescents. In severe cases, it can lead to thoracic deformation and cardiopulmonary dysfunction. At present, clinical treatment is mainly based on Cobb angle to take observation, brace or surgical intervention, but there are problems such as poor compliance and large trauma. As a non-invasive massage therapy, leverage positioning manipulation has shown orthopedic effects in clinical practice, but its biomechanical mechanism has not been systematically quantified, which restricts its standardization and promotion. Purpose of the study The purpose of this study is to quantify the mechanical and kinematic parameters of lever positioning manipulation in the treatment of scoliosis through biomechanical testing and finite element simulation technology, to construct an individualized finite element model, to analyze the stress and strain distribution of each structure of the spine under the intervention of manipulation, to reveal its biomechanical mechanism, and to provide scientific basis for the standardization of manipulation and the optimization of curative effect. Research contents and methods The study is divided into two parts : In the first part, 30 patients with scoliosis were recruited. Through the integrated mechanical sensor and motion capture system, the mechanical parameters ( such as preload force, maximum pull force ) and kinematic parameters ( such as angle, angular velocity ) during the manipulation were recorded in real time. In the second part, based on the CT data of patients, the three-dimensional finite element model of T10-L2 segment was constructed by using Mimics, Geomagic, SolidWorks and ANSYS software to simulate the loading process of manipulation and analyze the stress and strain response of vertebral body, intervertebral disc and ligament complex under the action of manipulation. Expected results and significance This study will systematically quantify the biomechanical characteristics of lever positioning manipulation for the first time, and clarify its mechanism of action in the treatment of thoracolumbar scoliosis. Through the finite element simulation, the stress distribution is visualized, which provides data support for the precision and individualization of manipulation, promotes the transformation of massage manipulation from ' experience dependence ' to ' quantitative science ', and lays a theoretical foundation for the development of intelligent orthopedic equipment in the future. Ethics and quality control The study has passed the ethical review, and all participants will sign the informed consent. The manipulation was performed by the same experienced physician, and the data collection and analysis process was strictly controlled to ensure that the results were true and reliable.

Interventions

• Procedure Lever positioning manipulation
  1 The patient took the prone position, exposed the waist and back, relaxed the whole body, and straightened the lower limbs. 2 The surgeon determined the top vertebra of the scoliosis according to the whole spine X-ray film, and used the olecranon of the elbow as the force fulcrum to accurately press the transverse process or spinous process on the convex side of the top vertebra, and the assistant fixed the shoulder of the patient. 3 The patient was asked to open his mouth and exhale, and the o

Primary outcome measures

• elbow pulling the maximum force：Through the mechanical gloves and elbow sleeves, the mechanical parameters in the process of manual operation were collected. [Time frame: 2 weeks]

Secondary outcome measures (11)

• maximum force of both hands pulling：Through the mechanical gloves and elbow sleeves, the mechanical parameters in the process of manual operation were collected. [Time frame: 2 weeks]
• lateral flexion angle： Through the three-dimensional motion capture system, the kinematic parameters of spinal activity during manipulation were collected. [Time frame: 2 weeks]
• rotation angle： Through the three-dimensional motion capture system, the kinematic parameters of spinal activity during manipulation were collected. [Time frame: 2 weeks]
• pulling time：Through the three-dimensional motion capture system, the time of the manipulation process is recorded. [Time frame: 2 weeks]
• pulling angular acceleration：Through the three-dimensional motion capture system, the kinematic parameters of spinal activity during manipulation were collected. [Time frame: 2 weeks]
• extension angle：Through the three-dimensional motion capture system, the kinematic parameters of spinal activity during manipulation were collected. [Time frame: 2 weeks]
• preloading force of both hands：Through the mechanical gloves and elbow sleeves, the mechanical parameters in the process of manual operation were collected. [Time frame: 2 weeks]
• Elbow preload force：Through the mechanical gloves and elbow sleeves, the mechanical parameters in the process of manual operation were collected. [Time frame: 2 weeks]
• average pulling angular velocity：Through the three-dimensional motion capture system, the kinematic parameters of spinal activity during manipulation were collected. [Time frame: 2 weeks]
• The stress of each structure：Through the analysis of finite element software, the stress of the spine under the intervention of manipulation was simulated. [Time frame: 2 weeks]
• Strain of each structure：Through the analysis of finite element software, the strain of the spine under the intervention of manipulation was simulated. [Time frame: 2 weeks]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Age between 10 and 45 years, stable vital signs, no severe diseases in other systems;
• Diagnosed with scoliosis via standard anterior-posterior and lateral spinal radiographs, with a Cobb angle of 10° < θ <= 45°, and no severe complications;
• No history of spinal surgery;
• Voluntarily willing to participate in this study as a subject to undergo LPM procedures, and signing the informed consent form by themselves or their guardian. Note: Only patients meeting all of the above four criteria can be included in this study.

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals with severe osteoporosis, spinal fractures, tumors, infections, or lesions within the spinal canal;
• Those with related complications, such as cardiopulmonary insufficiency (NYHA class >= II) or severe neurological disorders;
• Those with compression fractures or spinal cord injuries;
• Individuals with cognitive impairment or mental disorders who cannot cooperate with biomechanical testing;
• Those with a history of spinal surgery;
• Those with severe skin lesions or dermatological diseases at the operation site;
• Women who are menstruating, pregnant, planning pregnancy, or in the postpartum period;
• Those with other conditions that may reduce the likelihood of completing the procedure, such as a fear of manual therapy;
• Individuals with unclear surface markers, affecting motion capture accuracy (e.g., BMI >= 35 kg/m\^2).

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

N/A

Model

Single group

Masking

Open label

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

China · 1 center

• The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University — Zhejiang

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07325045 · ZSLL-KY-2025-101-01

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗