Objectifying Treatment Outcomes Using Musculoskeletal Modelling-Based Simulations of Motion

Abstract

Three-dimensional motion capture is currently widely integrated in human movement research studies as well as in the clinical follow-up of patients. However, there are certain quantities that are of particular interest to clinicians that cannot be measured experimentally, and thus there are questions that remained unanswered. Modelling and simulation provide the ideal framework through which to examine quantities in silico that cannot be measured in vivo. To study musculoskeletal loading, muscle forces and joint contact forces can be calculated. Furthermore, the causal relationships between muscle activity and resulting motion can be determined, therefore clarifying the functional role of muscles during motion and elucidating the effect of muscle weakness, aberrant movement and bone geometry. This chapter covers modeling and simulation methods that are currently in use and their applications to advancing the understanding of pathological movement and supporting clinical decision making. It focusses in particular on the use of modelling and simulation in understanding locomotion in cerebral palsy, osteoarthritis, total joint replacement, amputation and stroke and discusses future directions and applications.