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Disc Pressure Effects on the Spine, Influenced by Extra Equipment and a Massage System in Car Seats
Abstract:
Car seats with a variety of adjustments and massage systems are available in many cars. It could increase comfort. In a vehicle, particularly a car, it is difficult to increase comfort by variation in posture, since the person has to concentrate on traffic conditions and steering. A car seat has to support the body, since various forces occur, such as acceleration, slowing down and lateral forces. The driver / passenger is well supported by the car seat, and spends a certain time there in an unchanged position. Due to these facts it is meaningful to integrate a massage activity system (MAS) into a car seat. In this way, it is possible to devote oneself fully to the task of driving and the surrounding traffic. A MAS can take control of revitalising and changing the sitting position of the car occupants. Until now, the effect of the use of massage systems and additional equipment such as lumbar support on the intervertebral discs has never been studied.
For this experiment a pressure sensor was implanted with a canula in the middle of an intervertebral disc of a voluntary subject. In this way the local pressure in the disc was measured in an automobile with a massage system in the seat.
All measurements were taken in an ideal seat position. In this position the pressure in the disc was very low (0.5bar).
From these results we are able to improve our knowledge about extra equipment and massage systems and the subsequent reaction of the discs.