However, these tissues now bear most of the compression instead of the nucleus. However, the posterior annulus is still affected more than the anterior because it is the least dense region of the disc. Here stress shielding by the articular processes would not occur leaving the disc to sustain the load itself. Over time, this has the potential to lead to fissure formation and degeneration of the IVD 8,10 . However, pure compressive stress may not be enough by itself to cause structural damage to the IVD 5 pg.15 .
Tension is another type of axial loading.
From the above discussion it may seem as though tension or distraction should be applied to degenerated or continuously compressed discs. The shear stress is due to Poisson s effect. Next issue torsion, pure bending, and transverse loading of the disc will be discussed. The tissue origin of low back pain and sciatica. Assessment of patients with low-back pain by biplanar radiographic measurement of intervertebral motion.