An isovelocity dynamometer method to determine monoarticular and biarticular muscle parameters

J Appl Biomech. 2012 Dec;28(6):751-9. doi: 10.1123/jab.28.6.751.

Abstract

This study aimed to determine whether subject-specific individual muscle models for the ankle plantar flexors could be obtained from single joint isometric and isovelocity maximum torque measurements in combination with a model of plantar flexion. Maximum plantar flexion torque measurements were taken on one subject at six knee angles spanning full flexion to full extension. A planar three-segment (foot, shank and thigh), two-muscle (soleus and gastrocnemius) model of plantar flexion was developed. Seven parameters per muscle were determined by minimizing a weighted root mean square difference (wRMSD) between the model output and the experimental torque data. Valid individual muscle models were obtained using experimental data from only two knee angles giving a wRMSD score of 16 N m, with values ranging from 11 to 17 N m for each of the six knee angles. The robustness of the methodology was confirmed through repeating the optimization with perturbed experimental torques (± 20%) and segment lengths (± 10%) resulting in wRMSD scores of between 13 and 20 N m. Hence, good representations of maximum torque can be achieved from subject-specific individual muscle models determined from single joint maximum torque measurements. The proposed methodology could be applied to muscle-driven models of human movement with the potential to improve their validity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ankle Joint / physiology*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Models, Biological*
  • Muscle Contraction / physiology*
  • Muscle Strength Dynamometer*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Young Adult