Muscle-tendon unit parameter estimation of a Hill-type musculoskeletal model based on experimentally obtained subject-specific torque profiles.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to generate a subject-specific musculoskeletal muscle model, based on isometric and isovelocity measurements of the whole lower extremity. A two-step optimisation procedure is presented for optimising the muscle-tendon parameters for isometric and isovelocity joint torque profiles. A significant improvement in the prediction of joint torque profiles for both the solely isometric and a combined isometric and dynamic method of optimization when compared to the standard scaling method of The AnyBody Modeling System was observed. Depending on the specific purpose of the model, it may be worth considering whether the isometric-only would be sufficient, or the additional dynamic data are required for the combined approach.