Numerical Simulation Applied as a Diagnosis of the Behavior of Intervertebral Discs at Risk of Disc Herniation Due to Excessive Load

The main topic of this research work is essentially about what can happen to the spine when subjected to an axial load and the damage caused when the mechanical load capacity of the intervertebral discs is exceeded, giving the focus to the analysis by introducing it in the context of sports, in this case, weight lifting. The approach focuses on biomechanics, specifically how a weight affects the biological structure during a free squat. This common weightlifting exercise involves lowering the body into a seated position and then standing back up, with an Olympic bar supported on the T1 vertebra, with the purpose of creating an approach to understanding how the spine and intervertebral discs are directly affected. For this, a methodology is presented through which the model is obtained, its validation and the application of analysis through numerical simulation. Subsequently, the behaviour of the spinal column under pressure at different levels of force is observed and qualified. Various configurations of the spine were analysed, including the distribution of forces in the intervertebral discs and adjacent joints, using a 3D biomodel subjected to analysis in the finite element software ANSYS. The results show the effect that excessive forces can cause, giving way to injuries with a significant increase in pressure on the intervertebral discs, but mainly allowing the identification of critical areas where disc herniations can originate. This numerical simulation study seeks to prevent harmful conditions in the field of fitness by providing relevant information on possible spinal column injuries in loading scenarios, which could help in a better understanding and diagnosis of unexpected injuries.