ANI
06 Mar 2020, 04:55 GMT+10
Washington D.C. [USA], Mar 5 (ANI): A team of bioarchaeologists have discovered that the cause of back pain can be linked to humans' evolutionary past, that is, to increased stress placed on our spine by our unique ability to walk upright on two legs.
A team of bioarchaeologists at Simon Fraser University, the University of Liverpool, and the University of Sydney led the study published in the journal Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health.
The study examines why some people are more susceptible to a particular stress fracture known as spondylolysis, a condition that often affects athletes.
According to SFU postdoctoral researcher Kimberly Plomp, "Because spondylolysis only occurs in humans and does not affect our great ape cousins, it has long been assumed to be the result of increased stress placed on our spine by our unique ability to walk upright on two legs. However, there have been few attempts to test this hypothesis."The researchers used advanced 3D shape analysis techniques to compare the final lumbar vertebrae of humans with and without spondylolysis to the same bones in our closest living relatives, the great apes.
The team found that the differences between human vertebrae with spondylolysis and great ape vertebrae were greater than those between healthy human vertebrae and great ape vertebrae.
People who developed spondylolysis have vertebrae that are more wedge-shaped, where the front is taller than the back, in addition to other subtle shape differences. The differences are consistent with the vertebrae having "overshot" the optimum for walking on two legs, leaving the individual prone to developing spondylolysis.
The latest research is the third study that the researchers have conducted linking vertebral shape and back pain to the evolutionary history of our lineage. Previously, they have demonstrated that humans with intervertebral disc hernias have vertebrae that are more similar in shape to those of modern chimpanzees and those of our fossil ancestors than are humans with healthy spines.
"We can picture vertebral shape variation in humans as a spectrum with one end having vertebrae with an ancestral shape and the other end having vertebrae with exaggerated bipedal adaptations. Where an individual's vertebrae lie within this distribution has a bearing on their spinal health," says Mark Collard, SFU archaeology professor and Canada Research Chair in Human Evolutionary Studies.
"For decades, scholars have assumed that the reason humans are so commonly afflicted with back problems is that we walk on two legs," says Plomp." Our studies are the first to show a clear link between the shape of your vertebrae, bipedalism, and the health of your spine."Keith Dobney, professor of human palaeoecology at the University of Sydney and the University of Liverpool, adds: "This is an area requiring further study, but our data show that studying the past can have a direct bearing on current societal issues - in this case, the prevention and management of back pain." (ANI)
Get a daily dose of Toronto Telegraph news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Toronto Telegraph.
More InformationLONDON, England: Despite rising air fares, a potential global economic recession and risks of gridlock at some airports in Europe ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The US Commerce Department has proposed new laws aimed at preventing China and other countries deemed of concern ...
NEW YORK, New York - As concerns over the banking sector eased, U.S. stocks moved moderately higher on Thursday, but ...
MEXICO CITY, Mexico: Amid Tesla's plan to open a $5 billion Gigafactory in the country, Mexico will soon become an ...
PARIS, France: Amidst the mass deaths of dolphins and porpoises in recent years, France's highest administrative body has ordered the ...
MANILA, Philippines: An underwater robot from Japan has located a leaking fuel tanker, MT Princess Empress, which sank off the ...
Opening Day will feature eight former Cy Young Award winners, including three-time winner Max Scherzer of the New York Mets ...
Even though the Boston Bruins are already on the cusp of clinching the Atlantic Division, coach Jim Montgomery knows how ...
Boston Bruins forward A.J. Greer will have a hearing with the league Friday after his ejection for cross-checking Montreal's Mike ...
New Delhi [India] March 24 (ANI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed a chargesheet against notorious gangsters Lawrence ...
Canberra had tried but failed to prevent the violent criminal with deep extremist ties from traveling, local media has reportedDaniel ...
Adam Fox ended a personal 24-game streak without a goal and the New York Rangers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 ...