ArticleOpen Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/mirj.2025.12.001
3D Kinematics and Dynamic Loading of the Lumbar Spine in An Ice-hockey Swing: A Case Study Based on Musculoskeletal Modeling
Zichen Niu
International Curriculum Center, The
High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China, Beijing 100080, China.
*Corresponding author: Zichen Niu
Published: August 21,2025
Abstract
Asymmetric sports, such as ice hockey, impose repetitive and complex loads on the spine, yet the specific biomechanical demands on the thoracolumbar junction remain inadequately quantified. This case study aimed to investigate the three-dimensional kinematic and kinetic profile of the spine during an Ice-hockey Swing. A healthy male participant was analyzed using a 3D motion capture system, and the collected data was used to drive a personalized OpenSim musculo-skeletal model. Inverse kinematics and inverse dynamics were then performed to calculate the joint angles and reaction forces at the thoracolumbar joint (T12-L1). The results revealed two key findings: 1) Kinematically, the T12-L1 joint motion was dominated by lateral bending (range of motion: approx. 2.4°-2.6°), which exceeded movement in the sagittal and transverse planes. 2) Dynamically, this movement subjected the T12-L1 segment to immense multi-axial loads, with peak axial compressive forces reaching nearly 5,500 N and peak shear forces approaching 2,500 N. It was concluded that the primary biomechanical challenge of the Ice-hockey Swing is not purely rotational but rather a complex 3D motion dominated by lateral bending, which generates substantial compressive and shear stresses. These findings highlight the critical need for training and injury preven-tion programs to emphasize 3D core stability, particularly the capacity to resist both lateral bending and rotation.
Keywords
Biomechanics; Ice-hockey Swing; Lumbar spine; Musculoskeletal modeling; Lateral bending; Asymmetric sport
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How to cite this paper
3D Kinematics and Dynamic Loading of the
Lumbar Spine in An Ice-hockey Swing: A Case Study Based on Musculoskeletal
Modeling
How to cite this paper: Zichen Niu. (2025). 3D Kinematics and Dynamic Loading of the Lumbar Spine in An Ice-hockey
Swing: A Case Study Based on Musculoskeletal Modeling. Medical Imaging and Radiology
Journal, 2(1), 1-5.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/mirj.2025.12.001