Prediction of performance from muscle models
Wakeling, J
Simon Fraser University, Canada
Muscles function by changing length and developing force when they contract. Whilst there is a range of methods for measuring muscle length changes, there are currently no methods for directly measuring the force from individual muscles in man. Thus, muscle models are required to predict the contractile force for us to understand muscle function during healthy movements, and the dysfunction that comes with injury and disease. Most biomechanics studies use Hill-type muscle models to estimate muscle forces. Very few studies have been able to validate measured to modeled forces using this approach, and those that have report that there is still a substantial portion of force that is not predicted by these models. Over the last decade there have been a range of additional force generating mechanisms that have been tested for improving the predictive ability of muscle models: these include the representation of titin, fibre-type and recruitment, muscle tissue mass, 3D properties and material properties of the muscle tissue. This presentation will consider some of these recent developments in muscle modelling.