Muscle Function and Coordination of Amputee Stair Ascent

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole G. Harper ◽  
Jason M. Wilken ◽  
Richard R. Neptune
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Function ◽  
Gait Cycle ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Human Movement ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Lateral Control ◽  
Stair Ascent ◽  
Rehabilitation Programs ◽  
Ankle Muscles ◽  
Muscle Groups

Ascending stairs is challenging following transtibial amputation due to the loss of the ankle muscles, which are critical to human movement. Efforts to improve stair ascent following amputation are hindered by the limited understanding of how the prosthesis and remaining muscles contribute to stair ascent. This study developed a three-dimensional (3D) muscle-actuated forward dynamics simulation of amputee stair ascent to identify the contributions of individual muscles and the passive prosthesis to the biomechanical subtasks of stair ascent. The prosthesis was found to provide vertical propulsion throughout stair ascent, similar to nonamputee plantarflexors. However, the timing differed considerably. The prosthesis also contributed to braking, similar to the nonamputee soleus, but to a greater extent. However, the prosthesis was unable to replicate the functions of nonamputee gastrocnemius, which contributes to forward propulsion during the second half of stance and leg swing initiation. To compensate, the hamstrings and vasti of the residual leg increased their contributions to forward propulsion during the first and second halves of stance, respectively. The prosthesis also contributed to medial control, consistent with the nonamputee soleus but not gastrocnemius. Therefore, prosthesis designs that provide additional vertical propulsion as well as forward propulsion, lateral control, and leg swing initiation at appropriate points in the gait cycle could improve amputee stair ascent. However, because nonamputee soleus and gastrocnemius contribute oppositely to many subtasks, it may be necessary to couple the prosthesis, which functions most similarly to soleus, with targeted rehabilitation programs focused on muscle groups that can compensate for gastrocnemius.

scholarly journals Filtering Biomechanical Signals in Movement Analysis

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (13) ◽  
pp. 4580
Author(s):  
Francesco Crenna ◽  
Giovanni Battista Rossi ◽  
Marta Berardengo
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Uncertainty ◽  
Dimensional Space ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Movement Analysis ◽  
Analytical Signal ◽  
Human Movement ◽  
Reference Points ◽  
Biomechanical Analysis ◽  
Method Performance ◽  
Acceleration Signal

Biomechanical analysis of human movement is based on dynamic measurements of reference points on the subject’s body and orientation measurements of body segments. Collected data include positions’ measurement, in a three-dimensional space. Signal enhancement by proper filtering is often recommended. Velocity and acceleration signal must be obtained from position/angular measurement records, needing numerical processing effort. In this paper, we propose a comparative filtering method study procedure, based on measurement uncertainty related parameters’ set, based upon simulated and experimental signals. The final aim is to propose guidelines to optimize dynamic biomechanical measurement, considering the measurement uncertainty contribution due to the processing method. Performance of the considered methods are examined and compared with an analytical signal, considering both stationary and transient conditions. Finally, four experimental test cases are evaluated at best filtering conditions for measurement uncertainty contributions.

scholarly journals Muscle Fibre Architecture of Thoracic and Lumbar Longissimus Dorsi Muscle in the Horse

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 915
Author(s):  
Johanna Dietrich ◽  
Stephan Handschuh ◽  
Robert Steidl ◽  
Alexandra Böhler ◽  
Gerhard Forstenpointner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Fibre ◽  
Muscle Function ◽  
Horizontal Plane ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Muscle Volume ◽  
Longissimus Dorsi ◽  
Longissimus Muscle ◽  
Fascicle Length ◽  
Longissimus Dorsi Muscle ◽  
Dorsi Muscle

As the longissimus dorsi muscle is the largest muscle in the equine back, it has great influence on the stability of the spine and facilitates proper locomotion. The longissimus muscle provides support to the saddle and rider and thereby influences performance in the horse. Muscular dysfunction has been associated with back disorders and decline of performance. In general, muscle function is determined by its specific intramuscular architecture. However, only limited three-dimensional metrical data are available for the inner organisation of the equine longissimus dorsi muscle. Therefore, we aimed at investigating the inner architecure of the equine longissimus. The thoracic and lumbar longissimus muscles of five formalin-fixed cadaveric horse backs of different ages and body types were dissected layerwise from cranial to caudal. Three-dimensional coordinates along individual muscle fibre bundles were recorded using a digitisation tool (MicroScribe®), to capture their origin, insertion and general orientation. Together with skeletal data from computed tomography (CT) scans, 3D models were created using imaging software (Amira). For further analysis, the muscle was divided into functional compartments during preparation and morphometric parameters, such as the muscle fascicle length, pennation angles to the sagittal and horizontal planes, muscle volume and the physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA), were determined. Fascicle length showed the highest values in the thoracic region and decreased from cranial to caudal, with the cranial lumbar compartment showing about 75% of cranial fascicle length, while in most caudal compartments, fascicle length was less than 50% of the fascicle length in thoracic compartments. The pennation angles to the horizontal plane show that there are differences between compartments. In most cranial compartments, fascicles almost run parallel to the horizontal plane (mean angle 0°), while in the caudal compartment, the angles increase up to a mean angle of 38°. Pennation angles to the sagittal plane varied not only between compartments but also within compartments. While in the thoracic compartments, the fascicles run nearly parallel to the spine, in the caudal compartments, the mean angles range from 0–22°. The muscle volume ranged from 1350 cm3 to 4700 cm3 depending on body size. The PCSA ranged from 219 cm2 to 700 cm2 depending on the muscle volume and mean fascicle length. In addition to predictable individual differences in size parameters, there are obvious systemic differences within the muscle architecture along the longissimus muscle which may affect its contraction behaviour. The obtained muscle data lay the anatomical basis for a specific biomechanical model of the longissimus muscle, to simulate muscle function under varying conditions and in comparison to other species.

Molecular Dynamics Simulations of High Energy Cascades in Iron

1994 ◽  
Vol 373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger E. Stoller
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Method Of Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Energy Cascades ◽  
Iron Based ◽  
The Many ◽  
Property Changes ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

AbstractA series of high-energy, up to 20 keV, displacement cascades in iron have been investigated for times up to 200 ps at 100 K using the method of molecular dynamics simulation. Thesimulations were carried out using the MOLDY code and a modified version of the many-bodyinteratomic potential developed by Finnis and Sinclair. The paper focuses on those results obtained at the highest energies, 10 and 20 keV. The results indicate that the fraction of the Frenkel pairs surviving in-cascade recombination remains fairly high in iron and that the fraction of the surviving point defects that cluster is lower than in materials such as copper. In particular, vacancy clustering appears to be inhibited in iron. Some of the interstitial clusters were observed to exhibit an unexpectedly complex, three-dimensional morphology. The observations are discussed in terms of their relevance to microstructural evolution and mechanical property changes in irradiated iron-based alloys.

INTRA-SESSION RELIABILITY AND REPEATABILITY OF KNEE KINEMATICS IN SUBJECTS WITH ACL DEFICIENCY DURING STAIR ASCENT

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (06) ◽  
pp. 1750092
Author(s):  
MARYAM HAJIZADEH ◽  
ALIREZA HASHEMI OSKOUEI ◽  
FARZAN GHALICHI ◽  
GISELA SOLE
Keyword(s):  
Knee Joint ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Force Plate ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Knee Kinematics ◽  
Compensatory Mechanisms ◽  
Joint Rotation ◽  
Stair Ascent ◽  
Acl Deficient

Analysis of knee kinematics and ground reaction forces (GRFs) is widely used to determine compensatory mechanisms of people with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency (ACLD). However, the practicality of the measurements is subject to their reliability during different trials. This study aims to determine the reliability and repeatability of knee joint rotations and GRFs in people with ACLD during stair ascent. Eight participants with unilateral ACL-deficient knees performed five trials of stair ascent with each leg. The movements were captured by VICON motion analysis system, and GRF components were recorded using force plate. Three-dimensional tibiofemoral joint rotations were calculated. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM) and coefficient of multiple correlation (CMC) were calculated ACL-deficient legs showed lower absolute reliability during swing ([Formula: see text]–6.4) than stance phase ([Formula: see text]–2.2) for knee joint rotations. Moderate to high average measure ICCs (0.59–0.98), relative reliability, were achieved for injured and uninjured sides. The results also demonstrated high repeatability for the knee joint rotation ([Formula: see text]–0.97) and GRF ([Formula: see text]–0.99). The outcomes of this study confirmed the consistency and repeatability of the knee joint rotations and GRFs in ACL-deficient subjects. Additionally, ACL-deficient legs exhibited similar levels of reliability and repeatability compared to contralateral legs.

Design and operation of a tripod walking robot via dynamics simulation

Robotica ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 733-743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conghui Liang ◽  
Hao Gu ◽  
Marco Ceccarelli ◽  
Giuseppe Carbone
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Design ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
The Body ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Walking Ability ◽  
Walking Robot ◽  
Three Dimensional Model ◽  
Software Environment ◽  
Leg Mechanisms

SUMMARYA mechanical design and dynamics walking simulation of a novel tripod walking robot are presented in this paper. The tripod walking robot consists of three 1-degree-of-freedom (DOF) Chebyshev–Pantograph leg mechanisms with linkage architecture. A balancing mechanism is mounted on the body of the tripod walking robot to adjust its center of gravity (COG) during walking for balancing purpose. A statically stable tripod walking gait is performed by synchronizing the motions of the three leg mechanisms and the balancing mechanism. A three-dimensional model has been elaborated in SolidWorks® engineering software environment for a characterization of a feasible mechanical design. Dynamics simulation has been carried out in the MSC.ADAMS® environment with the aim to characterize and to evaluate the dynamic walking performances of the proposed design with low-cost easy-operation features. Simulation results show that the proposed tripod walking robot with proper input torques, gives limited reaction forces at the linkage joints, and a practical feasible walking ability on a flatten ground.

Modeling of a dry low nitrogen oxides burner using a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulation

2021 ◽  
pp. 095440892110355
Author(s):  
Guodong Sun ◽  
Xuejing Duan ◽  
Bo Hao ◽  
Afshin Davarpanah
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Oxides ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Control Policy ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Weather Patterns ◽  
United Nations General ◽  
Fluent Software ◽  
Low Nitrogen

Nitrogen oxides are considered as one of the greenhouse gases. Among the most significant emission sources for this gas is a natural gas-fired power plant. The United Nations General assembly suggested in 1988 that human activities can negatively impact weather patterns, and thus they should be controlled. This control policy can improve the efficiency of final consumers such as power plants, cars, or other energy-intensive industries. In this paper, the existing strategies and explicitly making the dry low nitrogen oxides burner reduce greenhouse gases in power plants are explored. The geometry of the burner has been produced in a three-dimensional form in GAMBIT software, and the results of the simulation have been expressed through FLUENT software. Contours of pressure, temperature, and velocity of the fluid in the furnace are also derived. It is concluded that the dry low nitrogen oxides burners plan has a better result compared with other strategies.

Muscle Function and Coordination of Stair Ascent

2017 ◽  
Vol 140 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole G. Harper ◽  
Jason M. Wilken ◽  
Richard R. Neptune
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Gluteus Maximus ◽  
Gluteus Medius ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Functional Roles ◽  
Stair Ascent ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Ankle Joints ◽  
Community Environments ◽  
Antagonistic Muscles

Stair ascent is an activity of daily living and necessary for maintaining independence in community environments. One challenge to improving an individual's ability to ascend stairs is a limited understanding of how lower-limb muscles work in synergy to perform stair ascent. Through dynamic coupling, muscles can perform multiple functions and require contributions from other muscles to perform a task successfully. The purpose of this study was to identify the functional roles of individual muscles during stair ascent and the mechanisms by which muscles work together to perform specific subtasks. A three-dimensional (3D) muscle-actuated simulation of stair ascent was generated to identify individual muscle contributions to the biomechanical subtasks of vertical propulsion, anteroposterior (AP) braking and propulsion, mediolateral control and leg swing. The vasti and plantarflexors were the primary contributors to vertical propulsion during the first and second halves of stance, respectively, while gluteus maximus and hamstrings were the primary contributors to forward propulsion during the first and second halves of stance, respectively. The anterior and posterior components of gluteus medius were the primary contributors to medial control, while vasti and hamstrings were the primary contributors to lateral control during the first and second halves of stance, respectively. To control leg swing, antagonistic muscles spanning the hip, knee, and ankle joints distributed power from the leg to the remaining body segments. These results compliment previous studies analyzing stair ascent and provide further rationale for developing targeted rehabilitation strategies to address patient-specific deficits in stair ascent.

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