Abstract
Background
This study was to extend previous neuromusculoskeletal modeling efforts through combining
the in vivo ultrasound-measured musculotendon parameters on persons after stroke.
Method
A subject-specific neuromusculoskeletal model of the elbow was developed to predict
the individual muscle force during dynamic movement and then validated by joint trajectory.
The model combined a geometrical model and a Hill-type musculotendon model, and used
subject-specific musculotendon parameters as inputs. EMG signals and joint angle were
recorded from healthy control subjects (n = 4) and persons after stroke (n = 4) during voluntary elbow flexion in a vertical plane. Ultrasonography was employed
to measure the muscle optimal length and pennation angle of each prime elbow flexor
(biceps brachii, brachialis, brachioradialis) and extensor (three heads of triceps
brachii). Maximum isometric muscle stresses of the flexor and extensor muscle group
were calibrated by minimizing the root mean square difference between the predicted
and measured maximum isometric torque–angle curves. These parameters were then inputted
into the neuromusculoskeletal model to predict the individual muscle force using the
input of EMG signals directly without any trajectory fitting procedure involved.
Findings
The results showed that the prediction of voluntary flexion in the hemiparetic group
using subject-specific parameters data was better than that using cadaveric data extracted
from the literature.
Interpretation
The results demonstrated the feasibility of using EMG-driven neuromusculoskeletal
modeling with direct ultrasound measurement for the prediction of voluntary elbow
movement for both subjects without impairment and persons after stroke.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 14, 2008
Accepted:
August 1,
2008
Received:
April 11,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
