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Mark Schuenke, Ph.D., professor of anatomy in the Biomedical Sciences Department, was recently invited to speak in Atlanta, Georgia and give a presentation in Antwerp, Belgium.

Schuenke, Ph.D presented his research at the 10th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back & Pelvic Girdle Pain held in Antwerp, Belgium, October 29, a gathering that aims to promote and facilitate interdisciplinary knowledge and to create a consensus on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic lumbopelvic pain.

In his presentation, titled “External force on the lumbar myofascial ring: effects of hypaxial muscle contraction on the lumbar spine,” Schuenke discussed his research on the role of the abdominal and latissimus dorsi muscles on the stability of the lumbar spine. Essentially, all of these muscles layer onto an integrating structure called the thoracolumbar fascia, which in turn attaches to the spine. Contraction of any one of these muscles has an additive effect on the tension in the fascia. However, it appears the tension is amplified by the contraction of paraspinal muscles.

After his trip to Belgium, Schuenke was invited to speak in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 9, at the annual symposium of the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons (AENS), which promotes the collaborative study and development of medical research regarding the treatment of extremity nerve disease.

In his talk, titled “Anatomy of DRG and Interface Between PNS/CNS,” Schuenke gave a lesson on the cells of the dorsal root ganglion, which is the location of sensory neurons, and how they are impacted by nerve entrapment and denervation.