In Press
K.L. Goh, J.R. Meakin, R.M. Aspden and D.W.L. Hukins. Stress transfer in collagen fibrils reinforcing connective tissues: effects of collagen fibril slenderness and relative stiffness.
Journal of Theoretical Biology , in press.

K.L. Goh, R.M. Aspden and D.W.L. Hukins. Shear lag models for stress transfer from an elastic matrix to a fibre in a composite material.
International Journal of Materials & Structural Integrity , in press.

2007

L.V. Burgin and R.M. Aspden. A drop tower for controlled impact testing of biological tissues
Medical Engineering and Physics 29 : 525-530, 2007.

2006
J.E. Jeffrey and R.M. Aspden. The biophysical effects of a single impact load on human and bovine articular cartilage.
Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, part H: Journal of Engineering in Medicine 220 : 677-686, 2006.
Doi: 10.1243/09544119JEIM31

M.S. Plumb, K. Treon and R.M. Aspden. Competing regulation of matrix biosynthesis by mechanical and IGF-1 signalling in elderly human articular cartilage in vitro .
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1760 : 762-767, 2006.
Doi:10.1016/j.bbagen.2006.01.019

R.M. Aspden, K.E. Rudman, and J.R. Meakin. A mechanism for balancing the human body on the hips.
Journal of Biomechanics 39 : 1757-1759, 2006.
Doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2005.04.028

L. Yao, C.S. Bestwick, L.A. Bestwick, N. Maffulli, and R.M. Aspden. Phenotypic drift in human tenocyte culture.
Tissue Engineering 12 : 1843-1849, 2006.
DOI: 10.1089/ten.2006.12.1843

K.E. Rudman, R.M. Aspden, and J.R. Meakin. Compression or tension? The stress distribution in the proximal femur. BioMedical Engineering OnLine 2006, 5 :12.

J.R. Meakin and R.M. Aspden. Static and dynamic stability of the spine.
Journal of Biomechanics 39 (15): 2919-2920, 2006.

Rahmatallah, S., Li, Y., Seton, H. C., Gregory, J. S., & Aspden, R. M. 2005, "Measurement of relaxation times in foodstuffs using a one-sided portable magnetic resonance probe", European Food Research and Technology 222 (3-4): 298-301, 2006

2005
J.S. Gregory, A. Stewart, P.E Undrill, D.M. Reid and R.M Aspden. Bone shape, structure and density as determinants of osteoporotic hip fracture: A pilot study investigating the combination of risk factors
Investigative Radiology 40 : 591-597, 2005

L.D. Mkukuma, C.T. Imrie, J.M. Skakle, D.W.L. Hukins and R.M. Aspden. Thermal stability and structure of cancellous bone mineral from the human femoral head of patients with osteoarthritis or osteoporosis. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 64 : 222-225, 2005.

T.L. Stewart, P. Roschger, B.M. Misof, V. Mann, P. Fratzl, K. Klaushofer, R. Aspden, and S.H. Ralston. Association of COLIA1 Sp1 Alleles with Defective Bone Nodule Formation In Vitro and Abnormal Bone Mineralization In Vivo .
Calcified Tissue International 77 : 113-118, 2005

K.L. Goh., J.R. Meakin, R.M. Aspden, and D.W.L. Hukins. Influence of fibril taper on the function of collagen to reinforce extra-cellular matrix.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B272 : 1979-1983, 2005.

S. Rahmatallah, Y. Li, H.C. Seton, I.S. Mackenzie, J.S. Gregory and R.M. Aspden. NMR detection and one-dimensional imaging using the inhomogeneous magnetic field of a portable single-sided magnet.
Journal of Magnetic Resonance 173 : 23-28, 2005.

M.S. Plumb and R.M. Aspden. The response of elderly human articular cartilage to mechanical stimuli in vitro.
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 13 : 1084-1091, 2005.

2004
J.S. Gregory, A. Stewart, P.E Undrill, D.M. Reid and R.M Aspden. Identification of hip fracture patients from radiographs using Fourier analysis of the trabecular structure: a cross-sectional study
BMC Medical Imaging , 4:4, 2004.

K.L. Goh, R.M. Aspden, K.J. Mathias and D.W.L. Hukins. Finite element analysis of the effect of material properties and fibre shape on stresses in an elastic fibre embedded in an elastic matrix in a fibre composite material.
Proceedings of the Royal Society A460 : 2339-2352, 2004.

L.D. Mkukuma, J.M.S. Skakle, I.R. Gibson, C.T. Imrie, R.M. Aspden and D.W.L. Hukins. Effect of the Proportion of Organic Material in Bone on Thermal Decomposition of Bone Mineral: an Investigation of a Variety of Bones from Different Species using Thermogravimetric Analysis coupled to Mass Spectrometry, High-Temperature X-ray Diffraction and Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy.
Calcified Tissue International 75 : 321-328, 2004.

Gregory, J. S., Testi, D., Stewart, A., Undrill, P. E., Reid, D. M., & Aspden, R. M. "A method for assessment of the shape of the proximal femur and its relationship to osteoporotic hip fracture", Osteoporosis International, 15: 5-1, 2004

J.M. Somerville, R.M. Aspden, K.E. Armour, K.J. Armour and D.M. Reid. Growth of C57Bl/6 mice and the material and mechanical properties of bone. Calcified Tissue International 74: 469-475, 2004.

M.S. Plumb and R.M. Aspden. High levels of fat and (n-6) fatty acids in cancellous bone in osteoarthritis.
Lipids in Health and Disease 3 : 12, 2004.

2003
A.M. Coats, P. Zioupos and R.M. Aspden. Material properties of subchondral bone from patients with osteoporosis or osteoarthritis by microindentation testing and electron probe microanalysis. Calcified Tissue International 73: 66-71, 2003

A.M. Coats, D.W.L. Hukins, C.T.Imrie and R.M. Aspden. Polarization artefacts of an FTIR Microscope and the consequences for intensity measurements on anisotropic materials.
Journal of Microscopy 211: 63-66, 2003

K.L. Goh, D.W.L. Hukins and R.M. Aspden,. Critical length of collagen fibrils in extracellular matrix. Journal of Theoretical Biology 223: 259-261, 2003

J.R. Meakin, D.W.L. Hukins, R.M. Aspden and C.T. Imrie. Rheological properties of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) as a function of water content and deformation frequency. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine 14: 783-787, 2003.

F.H. Dar and R.M. Aspden. A finite element model of an idealised diarthrodial joint to investigate the effects of variation in the mechanical properties of the tissues.
Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, part H: Journal of Engineering in Medicine 217 : 341-348, 2003.

J.R. Meakin, C.T. Imrie, D.W.L. Hukins and R.M. Aspden. Thermal analysis of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA). Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine 14: 9-15, 2003.

2002
J.M.S. Skakle and R.M. Aspden. Neutron diffraction studies of collagen in human cancellous bone. Journal of Applied Crystallography 35: 506-508, 2002.

B.A.A. Scheven, D. Marshall and R.M. Aspden. In-vitro behaviour of human osteoblasts on dentin and bone. Cell Biology International 26: 337-346, 2002.

F. Dar, J.R. Meakin and R.M. Aspden. Statistical methods in Finite Element Analysis.
Journal of Biomechanics 35: 1155-1161, 2002.

2001
R.M. Aspden, B.A.A. Scheven and J.D. Hutchison. Osteoarthritis is a systemic disorder involving stromal cell differentiation and lipid metabolism. Lancet 357: 1118-1120, 2001.

V. Mann, E.E. Hobson, R.M. Aspden, S.F.A. Grant, B. Li, S.P. Robins and S.H. Ralston. A COL1A1 Sp1 binding site polymorphism predisposes to osteoporotic fracture by affecting bone density and quality. Journal of Clinical Investigation 107: 899-907, 2001.

2000
K.L. Goh, K.J. Mathias, R.M. Aspden and D.W.L. Hukins. Finite element analysis of the effect of fibre shape on stresses in an elastic fibre surrounded by a plastic matrix. Journal of Materials Science 35: 2493-2497, 2000.

1999
G. Mburu, R.M. Aspden and J.D. Hutchison. Optimising the configuration of cement keyholes for acetabular fixation in total hip replacement using Taguchi experimental design. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, part H: Journal of Engineering in Medicine 213: 485-492, 1999.

J.S. Gregory, R.M. Junold, P.E. Undrill, and R.M. Aspden, "Analysis of trabecular bone structure using Fourier transforms and neural networks", IEEE Transactions On Technology In Biomedicine, 3: 289-294, 1999

B. Li, D. Marshall, M. Roe and R.M. Aspden. The electron-microscope appearance of the subchondral bone plate in the human femoral head in osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Journal of Anatomy 195: 101-110, 1999.

K.L. Goh, R.M. Aspden, K.J. Mathias and D.W.L. Hukins. Effect of fibre shape on the stresses within fibres in fibre-reinforced composite materials. Proceedings of the Royal Society A455: 3351-3361, 1999.
DOI: 10.1098/rspa.1999.0454

R.M. Aspden and R.W. Porter. Localised stresses in the intervertebral disc resulting from a loose fragment: a theory for fissure and fragment. Spine24: 2214-2218, 1999.

1998
B. Li and R.M. Aspden. A comparison of the stiffness, density and composition of bone from the calcar femorale and the femoral cortex. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine 9: 661-666, 1998.

R.J. Lewis, A.K. MacFarland, S. Anandavijayan and R.M. Aspden. Material properties and biosynthetic activity of articular cartilage from the bovine carpo-metacarpal joint. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 6: 383-392, 1998.

J.R. Meakin, R.M. Aspden and D.W.L. Hukins. Biomechanical models of the human lumbar spine. Comments on Theoretical Biology 5: 49-68, 1998.

1997
B. Li and R.M. Aspden. Material properties of bone from the femoral neck and calcar femorale of patients with osteoporosis or osteoarthritis. Osteoporosis International 7: 450-456, 1997.

B. Li and R.M. Aspden. Composition and mechanical properties of cancellous bone from the femoral head of patients with osteoporosis or osteoarthritis. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 12: 641-651, 1997.

J.E. Jeffrey, L.A. Thomson, and R.M. Aspden. Matrix loss and synthesis following a single impact load on articular cartilage in vitro. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1334: 223-232, 1997.

T. Papp,  R.W. Porter, R.M. Aspden, C.E. Craig and D. Campbell. Significant antenatal factors in the development of lumbar spinal stenosis. Spine22: 1805-1810, 1997.

B. Li and R.M. Aspden. Mechanical and material properties of the subchondral bone plate from the femoral head of patients with osteoarthritis or osteoporosis. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 56: 247-254, 1997.

T.Papp, R.W. Porter, R.M. Aspden and J.A.N. Shepperd. An in-vitro study of the biomechanical effects of flexible stabilisation on the lumbar spine. Spine22: 151-155, 1997.

B. Li and R.M. Aspden. Material properties of bone from the femoral neck and calcar femorale of patients with osteoporosis or osteoarthritis. Osteoporosis International 7 : 450-456, 1997.

1996
J.R. Meakin, D.W.L. Hukins and R.M. Aspden. Euler buckling as a model for the curvature and flexion of the human lumbar spine. Proceedings of the Royal Society B263: 1383-1387, 1996.

I.P. McLean, M.G.C. Gillan, J.C. Ross, R.M. Aspden and R.W. Porter. A comparison of methods for measuring trunk list: a simple plumbline is best. Spine 21: 1667-1670, 1996.

R.M. Aspden and R.W. Porter, editors: Lumbar Spine Disorders: Current Concepts. Volumes 1 and 2. World Scientific Publishing, Singapore, 1995 and 1996.
Publishers Website... Amazon.co.uk

1995
J.E. Jeffrey, D.W. Gregory and R.M. Aspden. Matrix damage and chondrocyte viability following a single impact load on articular cartilage. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 322: 87-96, 1995.

R. Bryce, R.M. Aspden and R. Wytch. Stiffening effects of cortical bone on vertebral cancellous bone in situ. Spine 20: 999-1003, 1995.

T. Papp,  R.W. Porter and R.M. Aspden. Trefoil configuration and developmental stenosis of the lumbar vertebral canal. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 77-B: 469-472, 1995.

R.M. Aspden and R.W. Porter, editors: Lumbar Spine Disorders: Current Concepts. Volumes 1 and 2. World Scientific Publishing, Singapore, 1995 and 1996.
Publishers Website... Amazon.co.uk

1994
R.M. Aspden. Fibre stress and strain in fibre-reinforced composites. Journal of Materials Science 29: 1310-1318, 1994.

R.M. Aspden. Fibre reinforcing by collagen in cartilage and soft connective tissues. Proceedings of the Royal Society B258: 195-200, 1994.

S.R. Murali, R.W. Porter, D.W. Gregory, D. Marshall and R.M. Aspden. New bone formation in an osteoporotic patient treated by intraosseous injection of bioactive materials; a case report. Cells and Materials 4: 337-346, 1994.

R.M. Aspden and R.W. Porter. Nerve traction during correction of knee flexion deformity. A case report and calculation. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 76-B: 471-473, 1994.

S.R. Murali, R.M. Aspden, J.D. Hutchison and J.M. Scott. Collagen organization in the crural interosseous membrane and its relationship to fibular osteotomy. Injury 25: 247-249, 1994.

T. Papp, R.M. Aspden and R.W. Porter. The growth of the lumbar vertebral canal. Spine 19: 2770-2774, 1994.

1993
D.J. Watmough, K.M. Quan and R.M. Aspden. Breast compression: a preliminary study. Journal of Biomedical Engineering 15: 121-126, 1993.

G.A. Smith, R.M. Aspden and R.W. Porter. Measurement of vertebral foraminal dimensions using three-dimensional computerized tomography.  Spine18: 629-636, 1993.

1992
D.J. Watmough, K.M. Quan and R.M. Aspden. Study of tissue compression in breast phantoms: possible implications for the use of X-ray mammography as a method for imaging breast carcinoma. European Journal of Surgical Oncology 18: 538-544, 1992.

R.M. Aspden. Review of the functional anatomy of the spinal ligaments and the lumbar erector spinae muscles. Clinical Anatomy 5: 372-387, 1992. 

1991
T. Larsson, R.M. Aspden and D. Heinegård. Effects of mechanical load on cartilage matrix biosynthesis in vitro. Matrix 11: 388-394, 1991.

R.M. Aspden. Aliasing effects in Fourier transforms of monotonically decaying functions and the calculation of viscoelastic moduli by combining transforms over different time periods. Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 24: 803-808, 1991. 

R.M. Aspden, T. Larsson, R. Svensson and D. Heinegård. Computer-controlled mechanical testing machine for small samples of biological viscoelastic materials. Journal of Biomedical Engineering 13: 521-525, 1991. 

D.W.L. Hukins, R.M. Aspden and T.A. Sikoryn. Definition of strain and stiffness in mechanical testing of animal tissues. Journal of Materials Science Letters 10: 535-536, 1991. 

1990
D.W.L. Hukins, M.C. Kirby, T.A. Sikoryn, R.M. Aspden and A.J. Cox. Comparison of structure, mechanical properties and functions of lumbar spinal ligaments. Spine15: 787-795, 1990. 

D.W.L Hukins, R.M Aspden and D.S. Hickey. Thoracolumbar fascia can increase the efficiency of the erector spinae muscles. Clinical Biomechanics 5: 30-34, 1990.

R.M. Aspden. Constraining the lateral dimensions of uniaxially loaded materials increases the calculated strength and stiffness: application to muscle and bone. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine 1: 100-104, 1990.

1989
R.M. Aspden and D.W.L. Hukins. Stress in collagen fibrils of articular cartilage calculated from their measured orientations. Matrix 9: 486-488, 1989.

M.C. Kirby, T.A. Sikoryn, D.W.L. Hukins and R.M. Aspden. Structure and mechanical properties of the longitudinal ligaments and ligamentum flavum of the spine. Journal of Biomedical Engineering 11: 192-196, 1989.

R.M. Aspden. The spine as an arch. A new mathematical model. Spine14: 266-274, 1989.

T. Larsson, R.M. Aspden, D. Heinegard. Large cartilage proteoglycan (PG-LA) influences the biosynthesis of macromolecules by isolated chondrocytes. Matrix 9: 343-352, 1989

1988
R.M. Aspden. The theory of fibre reinforced composite materials applied to changes in the mechanical properties of the cervix during pregnancy. Journal of Theoretical Biology 130: 213-221, 1988.

R.M. Aspden. Collagen organisation in the cervix and its relation to mechanical function.
Collagen and Related Research 8: 103-112, 1988.

R.M. Aspden. A new mathematical model of the spine and its relationship to spinal loading in the workplace. Applied Ergonomics 19: 319-323, 1988.

M.C. Kirby, R.M. Aspden and D.W.L. Hukins. Determination of the orientation distribution function for collagen fibrils in a connective tissue site from a high-angle X-ray diffraction pattern. Journal of Applied Crystallography 21 : 929-934, 1988.

T.A. Sikoryn, R.M. Aspden and D.W.L. Hukins. Simple computer controlled apparatus for in vitro mechanical testing of connective tissues. Journal of Biomedical Engineering 10 : 357-359, 1988.

R.M. Aspden, B.D. Gleave and D.W.L. Hukins. Dimensional measurements on images from a video camera or cassette recorder using a BBC microcomputer. Journal of Biomedical Engineering 10 : 291-292, 1988.

1987
R.M. Aspden. The importance of a slit-like lumen cross-section for the mechanical function of the cervix. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 94: 915-916, 1987

R.M. Aspden, N.H. Bornstein and D.W.L. Hukins. Collagen organisation in the interspinous ligament and its relationship to tissue function. Journal of Anatomy 155: 141-151, 1987.

R.M. Aspden. Intra-abdominal pressure and its role in spinal mechanics.
Clinical Biomechanics 2: 168-174, 1987.

E.M. Robinson, D.S. Hickey, R.M. Aspden and M. Machin. Computer simulation of the slice profile in magnetic resonance imaging. Physics in Medicine and Biology 32: 1531-1544, 1987.

1986
R.M. Aspden. Relation between structure and mechanical behaviour of fibre reinforced composite materials at large strains. Proceedings of the Royal Society A406: 287-298, 1986.

D.S. Hickey, R.M. Aspden, D.W.L. Hukins, J.P.R. Jenkins and I. Isherwood. Analysis of magnetic resonance mages from normal and degenerate lumbar intervertebral discs. Spine 11: 702-708, 1986.

D.S. Hickey, D. Checkley, R.M. Aspden, A. Naughton, J.P.R. Jenkins and I. Isherwood. A method for the clinical measurement of relaxation times in magnetic resonance imaging. British Journal of Radiology 59: 565-576, 1986.

1985
R.M. Aspden. A model for the function and failure of the meniscus. Engineering in Medicine 14: 119-122, 1985.

R.M. Aspden, Y.E. Yarker and D.W.L. Hukins. Collagen orientations in the meniscus of the knee joint. Journal of Anatomy 140: 371-380, 1985.

D.W.L. Hukins and R.M. Aspden. Composition and properties of connective tissues. Trends in Biochemical Sciences 10: 260-264, 1985.

1984
D.W.L. Hukins, R.M. Aspden and Y.E. Yarker. Fibre reinforcement and mechanical stability in articular cartilage. Engineering in Medicine 13: 153-156, 1984.

1983
Y.E. Yarker, R.M. Aspden and D.W.L. Hukins. Birefringence of articular cartilage and the distribution of collagen fibril orientations. Connective Tissue Research 11: 207-213, 1983.

1981
R.M. Aspden and D.W.L. Hukins. Calcification of the deep zone in pig femoral head cartilage. Experientia 37: 1333, 1981.

R.M. Aspden, D.S. Hickey and D.W.L. Hukins. Determination of collagen fibril orientation in the cartilage of vertebral endplate. Connective Tissue Research 9: 83-87, 1981.

R.M. Aspden and D.W.L. Hukins. Collagen organisation in articular cartilage, determined by X-ray diffraction, and its relationship to tissue function. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B212 : 299-304, 1981.

1979
R.M. Aspden and D.W.L. Hukins. The lamina splendens of articular cartilage is an artefact of phase contrast microscopy. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B206: 109-113, 1979.

R.M. Aspden and D.W.L. Hukins. Determination of the direction of preferred orientation and the orientation distribution function of collagen fibrils in connective tissues from high-angle X-ray diffraction patterns. Journal of Applied Crystallography 12: 306-311, 1979.