2009 ISSLS Prize Winner: What Influence Does Sustained Mechanical Load Have on Diffusion in the Human Intervertebral Disc?

Abstract

Sustained supine creep loading (50% body weight) for 4.5 hours retards transport of small solutes into the center of human IVD and it required 3 hours of accelerated diffusion in recovery state for LD to catch-up with diffusion in UD. The study supports the theory that sustained mechanical loading impairs diffusion of nutrients entering the disc and quite possibly accelerates disc degeneration.