Determination of joint load of human lower limb by using 2D inverse dynamics modelling

Abstract

The human lower limb is a major part of the human body that is exposed to high joint load during daily activities. Different lifestyles and cultural activities can affect the loading condition generated at the joint during motion. For instance, deep squatting is more frequently performed by Asians compared to Europeans e.g. kneeing on tatami among Japanese and sitting position during prayer among Muslims. The aim of this research is to determine the joint load of the human lower limb during the squat lifting movement by using inverse dynamics of 2-dimensional (2D) human lower limb model. The 2D inverse dynamics modelling was used to describe and compute all the joint force reactions from the known ground reaction and lower limb kinematics. In this study, 2D human lower limb model was analysed during the squat lifting movement. Inverse dynamics computation was performed using MATLAB programming based on Newton-Euler equations to determine the joint forces and moments. The joint loads at ankle, knee and hip joints for every knee flexion angle were obtained and the maximum forces at the ankle, knee and hip were 613.9, 614.1 and 596.1 N, respectively.