Citation

Newman MK, Biluk F, Kyropoulos P. Proc. Am. Assoc. Automot. Med. Annu. Conf. 1964; 8: 11-15.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1964, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

In automobile seat styling, the prevention of neck and back injuries, as well as the control of fatigue in cervical and lumbar skeletal muscles is most important. Pre-existing musculoskeletal problems, be they soft tissue injuries or bone changes, may be subject to reactivation under certain conditions of automobile driving, producing muscle spasm and pain. To determine the response of the anatomic areas, and the appearance of muscle spasm, with its associated complaint of pain in the neck and back, a definite program of observation was carried out. Our purpose was to attempt to evaluate the factors, which can be determined objectively by electromyographic observation as previously described. The preceding report indicated to us the physiologic approach that was necessary to record data associated with muscle spasm and its concomitant complaint of pain. We therefore utilized the technical details in following experiment in the current outline discussion. Detailed studies to objectify pain have been outlined. The appreciation of pain is entirely subjective, being mediated at various levels of the central and peripheral nervous system, and modified by the experience, by the physical status of the individual and personality. Muscle spasm is appreciated as pain. The electromyographic examination of muscle spasm coincides with the expression of pain on the part of the individual. The instrumentation is entirely objective and the appearance of pain must be considered an objective symptom. The presence of previous neck injury modifies the soft tissue reaction to trauma, and is responsive more easily to traumatic situations. When this occurs, as we note it in the simulated rough automobile ride, the complaint of pain areas is prolonged in the rough automobile rides. It would therefore be logical to have a seat support to remove the sensation of fatigue as well as strain with reference to the area of the cervical spine and shoulder musculature. Such details are currently being investigated in the Styling Department of the General Motors Technical Center by one of us (P.K.). The electromyograph is a sensitive objective instrument for observing muscle spasm interpreted as pain. It is possible, based on Aerospace experience with telemetry, to record the reaction of the body (muscle spasm in the cervical or lumbar area) doing a simulated or actual automobile ride. Accordingly, it will be possible to develop seat styling which will lessen the strain on the cervical and lumbar trunk muscles, when such telemetry information can be studied in a regular automobile ride with various types of automobiles.