Key result
Diagonal and lateral belt loading resulted in an elastic response approximately three times stiffer than hub loading, while maximally contracted thoracic musculature had minimal effect.
Population
2 human cadaver thoraxes (representing anthropometric extremes) and 2 porcine thoraxes
Comparison
Anterior loading from a 5.1-cm-wide belt… vs Different loading conditions compared to each…
Design
Preclinical
Authors
Loading...
Thoracic belt-loading data should not inform clinical practice; leaves open refinement of human thoracic models prioritizing anatomy over muscle.
Thoracic structural response to loading is primarily influenced by the anatomical structures engaged (especially shoulder involvement) rather than muscle tone, providing guidelines for thoracic models.
Kent et al. (2003) studied Thoracic deformation and injury risk (n=4). Different loading conditions (diagonal belt, lateral belt) and forced muscle contraction vs. Rigid hub loading and no forced muscle contraction was evaluated on Elastic and viscous characteristics of the thorax. Diagonal and lateral belt loading resulted in an elastic response approximately three times stiffer than hub loading, while maximally contracted thoracic musculature had minimal effect.
Synapse has enriched 2 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: