• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.139-143
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• 2010

Whiplash injuries often occur in motor vehicle collision accidents. This injury frequently occurs in the cervical region. However, the reason for this has not yet been clarified. In this study, a multi-body neck model with muscles was designed. Some muscles in the model were preloaded; these were previously determined using the concept of the follower load. Cervical spinal vertebrae, discs, and muscles were designed in accordance with the human cervical spine. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of preloads on muscles. The results imply that the whiplash model with preloaded muscles simulates practical situations more closely than models without preloads.