Image-Based Musculoskeletal Models to Accurately Reproduce a Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction Test In Silico

Musculoskeletal models and computational simulations are increasingly employed in clinical and research settings, as they provide insights into human biomechanics by estimating quantities that cannot be easily measured in vivo (e.g., joint contact forces). However, their clinical application remains...

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Main Authors: Francesca Bottin, Marco Viceconti, Giorgio Davico
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-09-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/19/8678
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author Francesca Bottin
Marco Viceconti
Giorgio Davico
author_facet Francesca Bottin
Marco Viceconti
Giorgio Davico
author_sort Francesca Bottin
collection DOAJ
description Musculoskeletal models and computational simulations are increasingly employed in clinical and research settings, as they provide insights into human biomechanics by estimating quantities that cannot be easily measured in vivo (e.g., joint contact forces). However, their clinical application remains limited by the lack of standardized protocols for developing personalized models, which in turn heavily rely on the modeler’s expertise and require task-specific validation. While motor tasks like walking and cycling have been widely studied, simulating a maximal knee extensor dynamometry test remains unexplored, despite its relevance in rehabilitation. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the minimum amount of experimental data required to accurately reproduce a maximal voluntary contraction test in silico. For nine healthy young females, four different subject-specific musculoskeletal models with increasing levels of personalization were developed by incorporating muscle volume data from medical images and electromyographic signal envelopes to adjust, respectively, muscle maximal isometric force and tetanic activation limits. At each step of personalization, simulation outcomes were compared to experimental data. Our findings suggest that to reproduce in silico accurately the isometric dynamometry test requires information from both medical imaging and electromyography, even when dealing with healthy subjects.
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spelling doaj-art-0b8d9a10eb2f4b5c87d11749140824bb2025-08-20T01:47:41ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-09-011419867810.3390/app14198678Image-Based Musculoskeletal Models to Accurately Reproduce a Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction Test In SilicoFrancesca Bottin0Marco Viceconti1Giorgio Davico2Department of Industrial Engineering, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna (IT), 40136 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Industrial Engineering, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna (IT), 40136 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Industrial Engineering, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna (IT), 40136 Bologna, ItalyMusculoskeletal models and computational simulations are increasingly employed in clinical and research settings, as they provide insights into human biomechanics by estimating quantities that cannot be easily measured in vivo (e.g., joint contact forces). However, their clinical application remains limited by the lack of standardized protocols for developing personalized models, which in turn heavily rely on the modeler’s expertise and require task-specific validation. While motor tasks like walking and cycling have been widely studied, simulating a maximal knee extensor dynamometry test remains unexplored, despite its relevance in rehabilitation. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the minimum amount of experimental data required to accurately reproduce a maximal voluntary contraction test in silico. For nine healthy young females, four different subject-specific musculoskeletal models with increasing levels of personalization were developed by incorporating muscle volume data from medical images and electromyographic signal envelopes to adjust, respectively, muscle maximal isometric force and tetanic activation limits. At each step of personalization, simulation outcomes were compared to experimental data. Our findings suggest that to reproduce in silico accurately the isometric dynamometry test requires information from both medical imaging and electromyography, even when dealing with healthy subjects.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/19/8678computational simulationsknee joint in extensionmaximum voluntary isometric contraction testmusculoskeletal modelingpersonalized muscle properties
spellingShingle Francesca Bottin
Marco Viceconti
Giorgio Davico
Image-Based Musculoskeletal Models to Accurately Reproduce a Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction Test In Silico
Applied Sciences
computational simulations
knee joint in extension
maximum voluntary isometric contraction test
musculoskeletal modeling
personalized muscle properties
title Image-Based Musculoskeletal Models to Accurately Reproduce a Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction Test In Silico
title_full Image-Based Musculoskeletal Models to Accurately Reproduce a Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction Test In Silico
title_fullStr Image-Based Musculoskeletal Models to Accurately Reproduce a Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction Test In Silico
title_full_unstemmed Image-Based Musculoskeletal Models to Accurately Reproduce a Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction Test In Silico
title_short Image-Based Musculoskeletal Models to Accurately Reproduce a Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction Test In Silico
title_sort image based musculoskeletal models to accurately reproduce a maximum voluntary isometric contraction test in silico
topic computational simulations
knee joint in extension
maximum voluntary isometric contraction test
musculoskeletal modeling
personalized muscle properties
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/19/8678
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AT giorgiodavico imagebasedmusculoskeletalmodelstoaccuratelyreproduceamaximumvoluntaryisometriccontractiontestinsilico