Anita Vasavada, Ph.D.
Associate Professor Office: McCoy South 103
E-Mail: vasavada@vetmed.wsu.edu
Phone: (509) 335-7533
Research Interests
Biomechanics and neural control of the musculoskeletal system, utilizing
anatomically-based models complemented with experimental data. Most of my
research is focused on the human head and neck system.
Specific Research Projects
Postural stability of the human head and neck
Neck muscles are important for both static postural stability (i.e., holding
up the head) and restoring head posture under dynamic conditions, such as those
that might occur during a blow to the head or an automobile accident (e.g.,
whiplash injury). When muscles are unable to stabilize the head, it can lead to
injury and chronic neck pain. We are examining how the activation of neck
muscles complements passive tissue stiffness to achieve postural stability using
experimental studies in human subjects integrated with biomechanical model
analysis.
Mechanisms of whiplash injury
The anatomical site and mechanism of injury during whiplash (a rapid
acceleration of the head and neck) are still unclear. We have utilized a
biomechanical model of the neck musculoskeletal system with experimental data of
human subjects undergoing 5 mph whiplash-like perturbations to calculate the
strains, and thus potential for injury, in neck muscles.
Gender differences in the neck musculoskeletal system
The goal of this work is to evaluate factors responsible for the increased
incidence of whiplash injury and neck pain in females vs. males. We have found
that female neck geometry is not a simple scaled version of male neck geometry,
which implies that gender-specific biomechanical models are necessary to
evaluate gender differences in neck musculoskeletal disorders. We are currently
developing a biomechanical model of the female neck musculoskeletal system.
Improving the geometric representations of neck muscles in
biomechanical models
Our current models of the neck musculature represent neck muscles as straight
lines. We are incorporating curved muscle paths into our models by defining
geometrical constraints that approximate the curved neck muscle paths based on
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data.
Selected Publications
Siegmund, GP, Winkelstein, BA, Ivancic, PC, Svensson, MY,
Vasavada, AN. The anatomy and
biomechanics of acute and chronic whiplash injury. Traffic Injury Prevention, 10(2):101-112, 2009.
Vasavada, AN, Lasher, RA, Meyer, TE, Lin, DC. Defining and
evaluating MRI-derived wrapping surfaces for spinal muscles. Journal of
Biomechanics, 41:1450-1457.
Vasavada, AN, Danaraj, J, Siegmund, GP. Head and neck
anthropometry, vertebral geometry and neck strength in height-matched men and
women. Journal of Biomechanics, 41:114-121, 2008.
Vasavada, AN, Brault, JR, Siegmund, GP. Musculotendon and
fascicle strains in anterior and posterior neck muscles during whiplash injury.
Spine, 32(7):756-765, 2007.
Anderson, J, Hsu, A, Vasavada, AN. Morphology, architecture
and biomechanics of the human cervical multifidus. Spine, 30:4:E86-E91, 2005.
Vasavada, AN, Peterson, BW, Delp, SL. Three-dimensional
spatial tuning of neck muscle activations in humans. Experimental Brain
Research, 147:4:437-448, 2002. [cited 11 times].
Panjabi, MM, Crisco, JJ, Vasavada, A, Oda, T, Cholewicki, J, Nibu, K, Shin,
E. Mechanical properties of the human cervical spine as shown by
three-dimensional load-displacement curves. Spine, 26(24):2692-2700, 2001.
Vasavada, AN, Li, S, Delp, SL. Three-dimensional isometric
strength of neck muscles in humans. Spine, 26(17):1904-1909, 2001.
Vasavada, AN, Li, S, Delp SL. Influence of muscle
morphometry and moment arms on the moment-generating capacity of human neck
muscles. Spine, 23(4):412-422
PubMed Publications (Note: PubMed Search may produce additional "Vasavada,
AN" authors.)
