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Modelling muscle activity in standing with considerations for bone safety

M Munih1, A Kralj

  • 1Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Journal of Biomechanics
|January 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) can be safer for paraplegics by synthesizing muscle activation patterns to minimize bone bending stresses, a novel approach called active unloading of the skeleton.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Neurorehabilitation
  • Skeletal Physiology

Background:

  • Functional electrical stimulation (FES) has advanced for restoring movement in paraplegics.
  • Concerns exist regarding the mechanical impact of FES on skeletal tissues.
  • Normal neuromuscular activity in intact individuals minimizes bone and joint loading.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if synthesized muscle activation patterns can reduce skeletal loading during FES.
  • To introduce and validate the concept of 'active unloading of the skeleton' for FES control.
  • To enhance the safety of FES systems by minimizing bone bending stresses.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a 2D musculoskeletal model of the lower limb with 23 muscles.
  • Calculated muscle activation patterns based on measurements from intact individuals in various postures.

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  • Employed static optimization to minimize net bending moments along long bones, incorporating muscle activation and contraction dynamics.

    • Main Results:

    • Appropriate muscular activity, achieved through coactivation and cocontraction, significantly reduced bone bending stresses.
    • Calculated muscle activation patterns resulted in uniform and low bone loading across different postures.
    • Net bending moments remained stable, with characteristic U-shaped (femur) and V-shaped (tibia) distributions, aligning with natural bone morphology.

    Conclusions:

    • Synthesizing muscle activation patterns to minimize skeletal bending moments is a viable and novel approach for safer FES.
    • The 'active unloading of the skeleton' strategy effectively reduces bone stress during FES-assisted movement.
    • This method ensures that bone loading during FES aligns with natural protective mechanisms, potentially preventing skeletal complications.