Gait Prediction Using Concurrent Musculoskeletal Control and FE Simulations

Current computational methods of simulating activities of daily living (ADL) have primarily consisted of musculoskeletal simulations [1]. Due to computational expense, simulations generally include assumptions which simplify joint or soft-tissue behavior. Joints are modeled as hinge or spherical and soft-tissue effects are included as spring-dashpot systems. Incorporating detailed deformable soft-tissue models would help overcome simplifying assumptions by coupling the behavior of a muscle loaded model with the underlying structures. Important clinical applications for a multi-domain simulation framework include, but are hardly limited to, predicting modifications to ADL to compensate for osteoarthritic pain or minimizing peak plantar pressures, which are believed to be significant for diabetic foot ulceration.