Using a cost function based on kinematics and electromyographic data to quantify muscle forces
A reliable evaluation of muscle forces in the human body is highly desirable for several applications in both clinical and research contexts. Several models of muscle force distribution based on non-invasive measurements have been proposed since 1836 (Weber and Weber, 1836), amongst which Crowninshield ’s model (Crowninshield and Brand, 1981), which maximizes a cost-function representing the muscle fiber endurance, is the most popular. It is worth noting that Crowninshield’s model is the most widely adopted notwithstanding its major limitations of physiological coherence. (Source: Journal of Biomechanics)
Source: Journal of Biomechanics - September 10, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: J. Wen, M. Raison, S. Achiche Source Type: research
Title: Shear wave elastography can assess the in-vivo nonlinear mechanical behavior of heel-pad
This study combines non-invasive mechanical testing with finite element (FE) modelling to assess for the first time the reliability of shear wave (SW) elastography for the quantitative assessment of the in-vivo nonlinear mechanical behavior of heel-pad. The heel-pads of five volunteers were compressed using a custom-made ultrasound indentation device. Tissue deformation was assessed from B-mode ultrasound and force was measured using a load cell to calculate the indentation test ’s force – deformation graph. (Source: Journal of Biomechanics)
Source: Journal of Biomechanics - September 10, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Panagiotis E. Chatzistergos, Sara Behforootan, David Allan, Roozbeh Naemi, Nachiappan Chockalingam Source Type: research
American Society of Biomechanics Journal of Biomechanics Award 2017: High-acceleration training during growth increases optimal fascicle lengths in an avian bipedal model
Sprinters have been found to possess longer muscle fascicles than non-sprinters, which is thought to be beneficial for high-acceleration movements based on muscle force-length-velocity properties. However, it is unknown if their morphology is a result of genetics or training during growth. To explore the influence of training during growth, thirty guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) were split into exercise and sedentary groups. Exercise birds were housed in a large pen and underwent high-acceleration training during their growth period (age 4 –14 weeks), while sedentary birds were housed in small pens to restrict movement....
Source: Journal of Biomechanics - September 8, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: M.Q. Salzano, S.M. Cox, S.J. Piazza, J. Rubenson Source Type: research
High-acceleration training during growth increases optimal muscle fascicle lengths in an avian bipedal model
Sprinters have been found to possess longer muscle fascicles than non-sprinters, which is thought to be beneficial for high-acceleration movements based on muscle force-length-velocity properties. However, it is unknown if their morphology is a result of genetics or training during growth. To explore the influence of training during growth, thirty guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) were split into exercise and sedentary groups. Exercise birds were housed in a large pen and underwent high-acceleration during their growth period (age 4-14 weeks), while sedentary birds were housed in small pens to restrict movement. (Source: Journal of Biomechanics)
Source: Journal of Biomechanics - September 8, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Matthew Q. Salzano, Suzanne M. Cox, Stephen J. Piazza, Jonas Rubenson Source Type: research
Editorial Board
(Source: Journal of Biomechanics)
Source: Journal of Biomechanics - September 5, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Source Type: research
Worm-like chain model extensions for highly stretched tropocollagen molecules
Tropocollagen plays a very important role in the load bearing functionality of soft tissues. In the context of multi-scale modeling the response of tropocollagen molecules to stretch should be very carefully predicted in order to describe the mechanical behavior of soft tissues. To this end, the worm-like chain (WLC) model is often applied, although it is restricted to the entropic force regime which is essential at moderate deformations. To describe molecular forces under larger stretches several extensions of the WLC have been proposed for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). (Source: Journal of Biomechanics)
Source: Journal of Biomechanics - September 5, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Markus Hillg ärtner, Kevin Linka, Mikhail Itskov Source Type: research
Doxycycline Improves Cage Activity, but not Exercised, Supraspinatus Tendon and Muscle in a Rat Model
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of doxycycline, a broad-spectrum MMP inhibitor, on cage activity and exercised supraspinatus tendon and muscle using a Sprague-Dawley rat model of non-injurious exercise. Because exercise may alter muscle and tendon MMP activity and matrix turnover, we hypothesized that doxycycline would abolish the beneficial adaptations found with exercise but have no effect on cage activity muscle and tendon properties. Rats were divided into acute or chronic exercise (EX) or cage activity (CA) groups, and half of the rats received doxycycline orally. (Source: Journal of Biomechanics)
Source: Journal of Biomechanics - September 4, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Sarah Ilkhanipour Rooney, Daniel J. Torino, Rachel Baskin, Rameen P. Vafa, Pooja S. Khandekar, Andrew F. Kuntz, Louis J. Soslowsky Source Type: research
Investigating the relationship between proteomic, compositional, and histologic biomarkers and cartilage biomechanics using artificial neural networks
A thorough understanding of the relationship between the biological and mechanical functions of articular cartilage is necessary to develop diagnostics and treatments for arthritic diseases. A key step in developing this understanding is the establishment of models which utilize large numbers of biomarkers to create comprehensive models of the interplay between cartilage biology and biomechanics, which will more accurately demonstrate the complex etiology and progression of tissue adaptation and degradation. (Source: Journal of Biomechanics)
Source: Journal of Biomechanics - September 3, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Joe T. Rexwinkle, Nicole C. Werner, Aaron M. Stoker, Muhammad Salim, Ferris M. Pfeiffer Source Type: research
Between-session reliability of opto-electronic motion capture in measuring sagittal posture and 3-D ranges of motion of the thoracolumbar spine
This study evaluated between-session reliability of opto-electronic motion capture to measure trunk posture and three-dimensional ranges of motion (ROM). Nineteen healthy participants aged 24 to 74 years underwent spine curvature, pelvic tilt and trunk ROM measurements on two separate occasions. Rigid four-marker clusters were attached to the skin overlying seven spinous processes, plus single markers on pelvis landmarks. Rigid body rotations of spine marker clusters were calculated to determine neutral posture and ROM in flexion, extension, total lateral bending (left-right) and total axial rotation (left-right). (Source:...
Source: Journal of Biomechanics - September 3, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Seyed Javad Mousavi, Rebecca Tromp, Matthew C. Swann, Andrew P. White, Dennis E. Anderson Tags: Short communication Source Type: research
A fiduciary marker-based framework to assess heterogeneity and anisotropy of right ventricular epicardial strains in the beating ovine heart
Quantifying ventricular deformation in health and disease is critical to our understanding of normal heart function, heart disease mechanisms, and the effect of medical treatments. Imaging modalities have been developed that can measure ventricular deformation non-invasively. However, because of the small thickness, complex shape, and anatomic position of the right ventricle, using these technologies to determine its deformation remains challenging. Here we develop a first fiduciary marker-based method to assess heterogeneity and anisotropy of right ventricular epicardial strain across the entire free wall. (Source: Journal of Biomechanics)
Source: Journal of Biomechanics - September 3, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: William D. Meador, Marcin Malinowski, Tomasz Jazwiec, Matthew Goehler, Nathan Quay, Tomasz A. Timek, Manuel K. Rausch Tags: Short communication Source Type: research
Articular-surface-based automatic anatomical coordinate systems for the knee bones
Increasing use of patient-specific surgical procedures in orthopaedics means that patient-specific anatomical coordinate systems (ACSs) need to be determined. For knee bones, automatic algorithms constructing ACSs exist and are assumed to be more reliable than manual methods, although both approaches are based on non-unique numerical reconstructions of true bone geometries. Furthermore, determining the best algorithms is difficult, as algorithms are evaluated on different datasets. Thus, in this study, we developed 3 algorithms, each with 3 variants, and compared them with 5 from the literature on a dataset comprising 24 l...
Source: Journal of Biomechanics - August 30, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Jean-Baptiste Renault, Ga ëtan Aüllo-Rasser, Mathias Donnez, Sébastien Parratte, Patrick Chabrand Tags: Short communication Source Type: research
Harmonizing finite element modelling for non-invasive strength estimation by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography
This study addresses the need to harmonize results across FE models. The aims are to establish the relationship between FE results as a function of boundary conditions and a range of tissue properties for the first-generation HR-pQCT system, and to determine appropriate model parameters for the second-generation HR-pQCT system. (Source: Journal of Biomechanics)
Source: Journal of Biomechanics - August 29, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Danielle E. Whittier, Sarah L. Manske, Douglas P. Kiel, Mary Bouxsein, Steven K. Boyd Source Type: research
Subject-specific calibration of neuromuscular parameters enables neuromusculoskeletal models to estimate physiologically plausible hip joint contact forces in healthy adults
In-vivo hip joint contact forces (HJCF) can be estimated using computational neuromusculoskeletal (NMS) modelling. However, different neural solutions can result in different HJCF estimations. NMS model predictions are also influenced by the selection of neuromuscular parameters, which are either based on cadaveric data or calibrated to the individual. To date, the best combination of neural solution and parameter calibration to obtain plausible estimations of HJCF have not been identified. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of three electromyography (EMG)-informed neural solution modes (EMG-driven, EMG-hybr...
Source: Journal of Biomechanics - August 29, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Hoa X. Hoang, Claudio Pizzolato, Laura E. Diamond, David G. Lloyd Source Type: research
Identification of Regional/LAYER differences In Failure Properties And Thickness as important Biomechanical factors Responsible For The Initiation Of Aortic DissectionS
Thoracic aortic dissections involving the ascending aorta represent one of the most dramatic and lethal emergencies in cardiovascular surgery. It is therefore critical to identify the mechanisms driving them and biomechanical analyses hold great clinical promise, since rupture/dissection occur when aortic wall strength is unable to withstand hemodynamic stresses. Although several studies have been done on the biomechanical properties of thoracic aortic aneurysms, few data are available about thoracic aortic dissections. (Source: Journal of Biomechanics)
Source: Journal of Biomechanics - August 29, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Christos Manopoulos, Ioannis Karathanasis, Ilias Kouerinis, Dimitrios C. Angouras, Andreas Lazaris, Sokrates Tsangaris, Dimitrios P. Sokolis Source Type: research
Repetitive trunk loading leads to faster trunk movement in response to external perturbation
The purpose of the present study was to examine trunk movement pattern responses to mechanical perturbation before and after two different repetitive trunk flexion-extension loading schemes. Spatial and temporal parameters were studied to understand the trunk recovery from an anteriorly directed perturbation. Eighteen male and female subjects (18-27 yrs) participated in active and passive trunk flexion-extension, performed seven days apart. Subjects performed 60 trunk flexion-extension repetitions in each condition. (Source: Journal of Biomechanics)
Source: Journal of Biomechanics - August 29, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Michael W. Olson, Li Li Source Type: research
