Evaluation of longitudinal ligament of the spine of Wistar rats in an experimental model of Suit therapy

ABSTRACT Ligaments adapt according to the intensity of physical activity and mechanical load to which they are subjected. In the last decade there have been methods and protocols in the field of infant neurofunctional physiotherapy, which have the term "suit" in common, to characterize the existence of suits with adjustable elastic bands and the possibility of applying load on the human skeleton. Since the mechanical load can produce fibrocartilaginous changes on the ligaments and also that no studies evaluating the effect of suit therapy on ligaments of the spine were found, research with experimental methods of load are justified. The aim of this study was to analyze thickness and morphology of longitudinal ligaments of the spine of Wistar rats when subjected to mechanical load by vertebral compression. Thirty animals were separated into five groups (G1 - control; G2 - simulation of the use of suit; G3, G4, and G5 - maintenance of the suit). The suit experimental model, in G4 and G5, were adapted weights or elastic bands arranged in "X" for 50% of spinal overload of the weight of the animal, who remained with the suit for 40 hours over four weeks of experiment, five days a week. There were no significant differences for thickness, and morphological changes of longitudinal ligaments were also not observed. We concluded that there were no changes in longitudinal ligaments of the spine in animals subjected to the experimental model of suit therapy.

摘要 韧带可根据其所承受的体力活动强度与机械载荷产生适应性重塑。近十年来，婴儿神经功能物理治疗领域出现了多款共同带有“支具（suit）”一词的方法与方案，这类支具配备可调节弹力带，且可对人体骨骼施加载荷。鉴于机械载荷可引发韧带的纤维软骨性改变，且目前尚无评估支具治疗对脊柱韧带效果的相关研究，故采用载荷实验方法开展研究具备合理性。本研究旨在分析经椎体压缩施加机械载荷时，Wistar大鼠（Wistar rat）脊柱纵韧带的厚度与形态学变化。将30只实验动物分为5组：G1组为空白对照组；G2组为支具使用模拟组；G3、G4、G5组为支具佩戴组。针对G4与G5组，本研究采用的支具实验模型配置了配重或呈"X"形排布的弹力带，以实现相当于动物体重50%的脊柱过载载荷；各组动物在为期4周的实验中每周佩戴支具5天，总佩戴时长共计40小时。实验结果显示，各组大鼠脊柱纵韧带厚度无显著统计学差异，亦未观察到明显的形态学改变。综上，本研究证实：接受支具治疗实验模型的实验动物，其脊柱纵韧带未出现明显改变。