Validation protocol of models for centre of mass estimation

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Human Motion Analysis
• Kinematics

Background:

• Estimating the body's centre-of-mass (COM) relies on biomechanical models and landmark data.
• Various COM estimation models exist, differing in complexity and validation methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a universal method for quantitatively assessing any centre-of-mass (COM) model.
• To facilitate the selection and validation of appropriate COM models for specific applications.

Main Methods:

• Developed a general quantitative assessment method for COM models.
• Created an experimental protocol and comparative indices to evaluate model accuracy.
• Applied the method to compare two kinematic models of varying complexity.

Main Results:

• The proposed method provides quantitative indices to assess COM model congruence with expected kinematic variables.
• An analytical comparison of two distinct kinematic models was performed using the developed protocol.
• The results demonstrate the method's utility in model comparison and validation.

Conclusions:

• The presented method offers a standardized approach for evaluating and comparing human body centre-of-mass (COM) models.
• This framework supports researchers and practitioners in choosing the most suitable COM estimation model for their specific needs.
• The study highlights the importance of quantitative validation in biomechanical modeling.