title: Hybrid models of the neuromusculoskeletal system improve subject-specificity.
abstract: Muscle-actuated simulations of pathological gait have the capacity to identify muscle impairments and compensatory strategies, but the lack of subject-specific solutions prevents the prescription of personalized therapies. Conversely, electromyographic-driven models are limited to muscles for which data are available but can capture the true neural drive initiated by an individual subject. In order to improve subject-specificity and enforce physiological constraints on muscle activity, we propose a hybrid strategy for the optimization of subject-specific muscle patterns that involves forward dynamic simulation of whole body movement coupled with electromyographic-driven models of muscle subsets. In this paper we apply the hybrid approach to an example of post-stroke gait and demonstrate its unique ability to account for the unusual muscle activation patterns and muscle properties in patients with neuromuscular impairments.
authors.affiliation: Biomechanics and Movement Science Program, University of Delaware, Newark 19716, USA.
authors.forename: Jill S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Higginson
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Ramsay
authors.forename: Thomas S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Buchanan
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D009435:Synaptic Transmission