In this section
Based at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's White City Campus, we are a research group with a focus on Spine Biomechanics. We use a range of tools to better understanding in the areas of spinal injury, spinal deformity and spinal surgery.
Our lab has state-of-the-art ex vivo testing capabilities, including bespoke testing rigs, a 6 DOF robot arm, a C-arm, pressure needles, water baths, and high-speed X-ray. We also have access to advanced imaging technologies, including micro-CT, 9.4T MRI, and microscopy.
We use novel computational approaches (finite element modelling, msk modelling, digital volume correlation (DVC), machine learning) to develop workflows to provide clinicians with information to inform patient treatment strategies, to better predict risk of injury, and to assess scoliosis brace designs.
We collaborate globally, with ongoing projects with colleagues in New Zealand, USA, Portugal, South Africa, Germany, Australia, Sri Lanka and India.
You can explore our recent publications below.
@article{Raftery:2026,
author = {Raftery, KA and Tavana, S and Davis, B and Thomas, B and Leong, J and Freedman, BA and Newell, N},
journal = {Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology},
title = {In vivo prediction of intervertebral disc strains and segmental kinematics from clinical MRI during lumbar extension},
year = {2026}
}
TY - JOUR
AB - Introduction: Excessive intervertebral disc (IVD) strains and vertebral body motions are associated with lower back pain (LBP). Quantifying these strains and motions may aid in predicting the success of candidate LBP treatments and enable better prediction of pre-operative instability and post-operative implant failure, but cannot currently be obtained in routine clinical assessment. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of utilising clinical measures of spinal alignment, IVD geometry, and disc degeneration to predict in vivo IVD strains and vertebral translations. Methods: Fifteen participants presenting no LBP were subjected to one unloaded and one supine extension-loaded MRI scan. MRI-based digital volume correlation (DVC) was used to quantify the principal and shear strains of lumbar IVDs and anterior-posterior, cranial-caudal, and total translation of the vertebral bodies (L1-S1). IVD height, anterior-posterior IVD height ratio, segmental lordosis, lumbar lordosis, lumbar height, sacral angle, and Pfirrmann grade were evaluated using the reference MR images. Multivariate linear regression was used to predict level-wise strains and translations.Results: IVD strains and vertebral translations were successfully predicted from clinical measures of spinal alignment and disc degeneration, but only at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels. Specifically, greater minimum principal IVD strains and vertebral anterolisthesis were associated with a reduced anterior-posterior IVD height ratio at L4-L5 (p < 0.01). Greater peak minimum principal strains and anterolisthesis were associated with taller IVDs in the L5-S1 segment (p < 0.05). In the same segment, increased sacral angle was associated with greater peak minimum principal strains (p < 0.05) but lower anterolisthesis (p < 0.01). Discussion: This study demonstrates the potential of utilising radiographic variables to predict the biomechanical behaviour at the segmental level, giving rise to future
AU - Raftery,KA
AU - Tavana,S
AU - Davis,B
AU - Thomas,B
AU - Leong,J
AU - Freedman,BA
AU - Newell,N
PY - 2026///
SN - 2296-4185
TI - In vivo prediction of intervertebral disc strains and segmental kinematics from clinical MRI during lumbar extension
T2 - Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
ER -