Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

An optimal control model for maximum-height human jumping.

M G Pandy1, F E Zajac, E Sim

  • 1Mechanical Engineering Department, Stanford University, CA 94305-4201.

Journal of Biomechanics
|January 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

'Who Listens to the Listener, Who Cares for the Carer?' A Cross-Sectional Study of Social Connectedness and Sleep Experiences of Young Siblings of Neurodivergent People.

Child: care, health and development·2024
Same author

Hip abductor muscle volumes are smaller in individuals affected by patellofemoral joint osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis and cartilage·2018
Same author

Differences in in vivo muscle fascicle and tendinous tissue behavior between the ankle plantarflexors during running.

Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports·2018
Same author

Human VEGF165-myoblasts produce concomitant angiogenesis/myogenesis in the regenerative heart.

Molecular and cellular biochemistry·2016
Same author

Exercise, education, manual-therapy and taping compared to education for patellofemoral osteoarthritis: a blinded, randomised clinical trial.

Osteoarthritis and cartilage·2015
Same author

Multivariate assessment of site of lingual nerve.

The British journal of oral & maxillofacial surgery·2015
Same journal

Regional mechanical differences in hamstring muscles after removal of surrounding connective tissue.

Journal of biomechanics·2026
Same journal

A novel knee joint laxity measurement device in mice.

Journal of biomechanics·2026
Same journal

Influence of iliofemoral ligament laxity on hip joint contact forces during gait.

Journal of biomechanics·2026
Same journal

Associations of sagittal spinal alignment with shear wave velocity, thickness, and echo intensity of muscles attached to the spine and pelvis in healthy women.

Journal of biomechanics·2026
Same journal

The gait lab effect: symmetry restoration strategy after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is different in natural environments than the gait laboratory.

Journal of biomechanics·2026
Same journal

Mediolateral trunk control, rather than temporal gait control, is associated with treadmill walking adaptation in healthy older adults.

Journal of biomechanics·2026
See all related articles

This study models human jumping to understand movement coordination, using optimal control theory to maximize jump height. The model accurately predicts key features of a maximum-height squat jump, validating its approach to simulating complex human motion.

Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Human Movement Science
  • Robotics and Control Theory

Background:

  • Coordinating human movement involves complex interactions between muscles, body segments, and dynamics.
  • Understanding these coordination mechanisms is crucial for fields ranging from sports science to rehabilitation robotics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate a computational model for simulating maximum-height human jumping.
  • To investigate the interplay of intermuscular control, inertial interactions, and musculotendon dynamics in human locomotion.

Main Methods:

  • A four-segment, planar articulated linkage model of the human body was employed.
  • Eight musculotendon actuators, incorporating Hill-type muscle models and elastic tendons, drove the skeletal system.
  • Optimal control theory, specifically the Mayne-Polak algorithm, was used to maximize jump height subject to physiological and physical constraints.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • The model successfully reproduced major features of a maximum-height squat jump, including limb kinematics, ground reaction forces, and muscular activity sequences.
  • Predictions aligned qualitatively with previously reported experimental findings on human jumping performance.
  • The model demonstrated the capacity to simulate the complex dynamics governing high-performance human movements.

Conclusions:

  • The developed optimal control model provides a valid framework for studying human movement coordination.
  • This approach can accurately predict key biomechanical variables during dynamic activities like jumping.
  • The findings offer insights into the neural control strategies underlying efficient and powerful human locomotion.