@article{MelznerEngelhardtSimonetal., author = {Melzner, Maximilian and Engelhardt, Lucas and Simon, Ulrich and Dendorfer, Sebastian}, title = {Electromyography-Based Validation of a Musculoskeletal Hand Model}, series = {Journal of Biomechanical Engineering}, volume = {144}, journal = {Journal of Biomechanical Engineering}, number = {2}, publisher = {American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME}, doi = {10.1115/1.4052115}, pages = {8}, abstract = {Regarding the prevention of injuries and rehabilitation of the human hand, musculoskeletal simulations using an inverse dynamics approach allow for insights of the muscle recruitment and thus acting forces on the hand. Currently, several hand models from various research groups are in use, which are mainly validated by the comparison of numerical and anatomical moment arms. In contrast to this validation and model-building technique by cadaver studies, the aim of this study is to further validate a recently published hand model [1] by analyzing numerically calculated muscle activities in comparison to experimentally measured electromyographical signals of the muscles. Therefore, the electromyographical signals of 10 hand muscles of five test subjects performing seven different hand movements were measured. The kinematics of these tasks were used as input for the hand model, and the numerical muscle activities were computed. To analyze the relationship between simulated and measured activities, the time difference of the muscle on- and off-set points was calculated, which resulted in a mean on- and off-set time difference of 0.58 s between the experimental data and the model. The largest differences were detected for movements that mainly addressed the wrist. One major issue comparing simulated and measured muscle activities of the hand is cross-talk. Nevertheless, the results show that the hand model fits the experiment quite accurately despite some limitations and is a further step toward patient-specific modeling of the upper extremity.}, subject = {Elektromyographie}, language = {en} } @article{AuerKurbowitschSuessetal., author = {Auer, Simon and Kurbowitsch, Simone and S{\"u}ß, Franz and Renkawitz, Tobias and Krutsch, Werner and Dendorfer, Sebastian}, title = {Mental stress reduces performance and changes musculoskeletal loading in football-related movements}, series = {Science and Medicine in Football}, volume = {5}, journal = {Science and Medicine in Football}, number = {4}, publisher = {Taylor \& Francis}, doi = {10.1080/24733938.2020.1860253}, pages = {323 -- 329}, abstract = {Purpose: Football players have a high risk of leg muscle injuries, especially when exposed to mental stress. Hence, this study investigated the musculoskeletal response of elite youth football players during highly dynamic movements under stress. The hypothesis is that mental stress reduces performance and changes the muscular forces exerted. Materials \& methods: Twelve elite youth football players were subjected to mental stress while performing sports-specific change-of-direction movements. A modified version of the d2 attention test was used as stressor. The kinetics are computed using inverse dynamics. Running times and exerted forces of injury-prone muscles were analysed. Results: The stressor runs were rated more mentally demanding by the players (p = 0.006, rs = 0.37) with unchanged physical demand (p = 0.777, rs = 0.45). This resulted in 10\% longer running times under stress (p < 0.001, d = -1.62). The musculoskeletal analysis revealed higher peak muscle forces under mental stress for some players but not for others. Discussion: The study shows that motion capture combined with musculoskeletal computation is suitable to analyse the effects of stress on athletes in highly dynamic movements. For the first time in football medicine, our data quantifies an association between mental stress with reduced football players' performance and changes in muscle force.}, language = {en} } @article{EngelhardtMelznerHavelkovaetal., author = {Engelhardt, Lucas and Melzner, Maximilian and Havelkova, Linda and Fiala, Pavel and Christen, Patrik and Dendorfer, Sebastian and Simon, Ulrich}, title = {A new musculoskeletal AnyBodyTM detailed hand model}, series = {Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering}, volume = {24}, journal = {Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering}, number = {7}, publisher = {Taylor \& Francis}, doi = {10.1080/10255842.2020.1851367}, pages = {777 -- 787}, abstract = {Musculoskeletal research questions regarding the prevention or rehabilitation of the hand can be addressed using inverse dynamics simulations when experiments are not possible. To date, no complete human hand model implemented in a holistic human body model has been fully developed. The aim of this work was to develop, implement, and validate a fully detailed hand model using the AnyBody Modelling System (AMS) (AnyBody, Aalborg, Denmark). To achieve this, a consistent multiple cadaver dataset, including all extrinsic and intrinsic muscles, served as a basis. Various obstacle methods were implemented to obtain with the correct alignment of the muscle paths together with the full range of motion of the fingers. These included tori, cylinders, and spherical ellipsoids. The origin points of the lumbrical muscles within the tendon of the flexor digitorum profundus added a unique feature to the model. Furthermore, the possibility of an entire patient-specific scaling based on the hand length and width were implemented in the model. For model validation, experimental datasets from the literature were used, which included the comparison of numerically calculated moment arms of the wrist, thumb, and index finger muscles. In general, the results displayed good comparability of the model and experimental data. However, the extrinsic muscles showed higher accordance than the intrinsic ones. Nevertheless, the results showed, that the proposed developed inverse dynamics hand model offers opportunities in a broad field of applications, where the muscles and joint forces of the forearm play a crucial role.}, language = {en} } @article{SaffertMelznerDendorfer, author = {Saffert, Anne-Sophie and Melzner, Maximilian and Dendorfer, Sebastian}, title = {Biomechanical analysis of the right elevated glenohumeral joint in violinists during legato-playing}, series = {Technology and Health Care}, volume = {30}, journal = {Technology and Health Care}, number = {1}, publisher = {IOS Press}, doi = {10.3233/THC-219001}, pages = {177 -- 186}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Many statistics reveal that violin players suffer most often from musculoskeletal disorders compared to musicians of other instrument groups. A common phenomenon, especially observed in violin beginners, is the tendency to elevate the right shoulder during playing the violin. This can probably lead to serious disorders in long-term practice with repetitive movements. OBJECTIVE: For this reason, this study investigated the relationship between the right shoulder elevation and the force in the right glenohumeral joint during violin playing. It was hypothesized that the forces in the right glenohumeral joint are higher during playing with the right shoulder raised compared to playing in normal posture. METHODS: Motion capture data from four experienced violinists was recorded and processed by means of musculoskeletal simulation to get the force and elevation angle while playing with raised shoulder and in normal position. RESULTS: The results indicate that the absolute values of the resulting force, as well as the forces in the mediolateral, inferosuperior, and anteroposterior directions, are higher in playing the violin with the shoulder raised than in a normal posture. CONCLUSIONS: Elevating the right shoulder while playing the violin may pose a potential problem.}, subject = {Biomechanische Analyse}, language = {en} } @article{AuerSuessDendorfer, author = {Auer, Simon and S{\"u}ß, Franz and Dendorfer, Sebastian}, title = {Using markerless motion capture and musculoskeletal models: An evaluation of joint kinematics}, series = {Technology and Health Care}, journal = {Technology and Health Care}, publisher = {IOS Press}, issn = {0928-7329}, doi = {10.3233/THC-240202}, pages = {1 -- 10}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: This study presents a comprehensive comparison between a marker-based motion capture system (MMC) and a video-based motion capture system (VMC) in the context of kinematic analysis using musculoskeletal models. OBJECTIVE: Focusing on joint angles, the study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of VMC as a viable alternative for biomechanical research. METHODS: Eighteen healthy subjects performed isolated movements with 17 joint degrees of freedom, and their kinematic data were collected using both an MMC and a VMC setup. The kinematic data were entered into the AnyBody Modelling System, which enables the calculation of joint angles. The mean absolute error (MAE) was calculated to quantify the deviations between the two systems. RESULTS: The results showed good agreement between VMC and MMC at several joint angles. In particular, the shoulder, hip and knee joints showed small deviations in kinematics with MAE values of 4.8∘, 6.8∘ and 3.5∘, respectively. However, the study revealed problems in tracking hand and elbow movements, resulting in higher MAE values of 13.7∘ and 27.7∘. Deviations were also higher for head and thoracic movements. CONCLUSION: Overall, VMC showed promising results for lower body and shoulder kinematics. However, the tracking of the wrist and pelvis still needs to be refined. The research results provide a basis for further investigations that promote the fusion of VMC and musculoskeletal models.}, language = {en} } @misc{Dendorfer, author = {Dendorfer, Sebastian}, title = {The influence of modeling parameters in the AnyBody Modeling System on muscle and joint loading in the shoulder}, series = {International Shoulder Group Meeting}, volume = {05}, journal = {International Shoulder Group Meeting}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{GrossVerkerkeDendorfer, author = {Gross, Simon and Verkerke, Gijsbertus Jacob and Dendorfer, Sebastian}, title = {Combined Experimental and Numerical Approach to Investigate Changes in Muscle Recruitment Pattern of the Back Muscles during Exhausting Exercise}, series = {World Congress Biomechanics Dublin, 2018}, booktitle = {World Congress Biomechanics Dublin, 2018}, abstract = {In recent years, musculoskeletal computation has become a widely used tool to investigate joint and muscle forces within the human body. However, the issue of muscle fatigue is not considered adequately in most models and is a challenging task. One aspect that needs to be examined is the interaction of muscles during an exhausting task. Therefore, an experimental study was designed to analyze the changes of back muscle recruitment pattern during such exercises. In this study 38 subjects (27 male, 11 female, height = 177±8.5 cm, weight = 74.0±13.6 kg) participated. Each subject had to perform three static and three dynamic exhausting exercises where the back muscles were loaded with subject specific forces using a dynamometer adapter especially designed for the trunk muscles. To collect the muscle activity, twelve surface electromyography sensors were applied on the back, and four on the abdominal muscles. Muscle activity and fatigue were analyzed by calculating the maximum voluntary contraction normalized signal and the median frequency. At first the fatigue of m. erector spinae and m. multifidi was analyzed, since these muscles carry the main load during the exercises. Subsequently the activity of the m. trapezius, m. rectus abdominis and m. obliquus externus were investigated to determine recruitment patterns. To gain more detailed information of these patterns a numerical model was built using the AnyBody Modeling System™. Analyzing the measurements, we can observe an increasing muscle activity during isokinetic exercises while the force is constant. Since the activity in the simulation is defined as the current force output divided by the strength of the muscle, the strength parameter was scaled down based on the measured data, assuming a linear force - activity correlation, and using a numerical algorithm considering the influence of cross talk. The results show, that changes in recruitment pattern can be divided into three major subgroups. Prior to total exhaustion, some of the subjects show additional activation of muscles in the trapezius region, while other subjects show an additional activation of abdominal muscles, increasing the intra-abdominal pressure which supports the spine. In the third group an activation in both regions can be observed. The numerical simulations show an increasing activity of abdominal muscles as well as muscles in the upper back. Especially the m. latissimus dorsi shows a significantly higher activity. The results lead to the conclusion that prior to total exhaustion, additional muscles are recruited to support the main muscles. It was shown that abdominal muscles are activated to support back muscles by pressurizing the trunk cavity to delay total exhaustion as long as possible. In conclusion, the results show that changes in muscle recruitment pattern need to be considered when introducing muscle fatigue to musculoskeletal models.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{JungtaeublAurbachMelzneretal., author = {Jungt{\"a}ubl, Dominik and Aurbach, Maximilian and Melzner, Maximilian and Spicka, Jan and S{\"u}ß, Franz and Dendorfer, Sebastian}, title = {EMG-Based Validation of Musculoskeletal Models Considering Crosstalk}, series = {International Conference BIOMDLORE, June 28 - 30 2018, Białystok, Poland}, booktitle = {International Conference BIOMDLORE, June 28 - 30 2018, Białystok, Poland}, doi = {10.1109/BIOMDLORE.2018.8467211}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Validation and verification of multibody musculoskeletal models sEMG is a difficult process because of the reliability of sEMG data and the complex relationship of muscle force and sEMG. OBJECTIVE: This work aims at comparing experimentally recorded and simulated muscle activities considering a numerical model for crosstalk. METHODS: For providing an experimentally derived reference data set, subjects were performing elevations of the arm, where the activities of the contemplated muscle groups were measured by sEMG sensors. Computed muscle activities were further processed and transformed into an artificial electromyographical signal, which includes a numerical crosstalk model. In order to determine whether the crosstalk model provides a better agreement with the measured muscle activities, the Pearson correlation coefficient has been computed as a qualitative way of assessing the curve progression of the data sets. RESULTS: The results show an improvement in the correlation coefficient between the experimental data and the simulated muscle activities when taking crosstalk into account. CONCLUSIONS: Although the correlation coefficient increased when the crosstalk model was utilized, it is questionable if the discretization of both, the crosstalk and the musculoskeletal model, is accurate enough.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SuessKubowitschVerkerkeetal., author = {S{\"u}ß, Franz and Kubowitsch, Simone and Verkerke, Gijsbertus Jacob and Dendorfer, Sebastian}, title = {Investigation of cognitive stress induced changes in spinal disc forces due to altered kinematics and muscle activity}, series = {World Congress Biomechanics, Dublin, 2018}, booktitle = {World Congress Biomechanics, Dublin, 2018}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SuessKubowitschVerkerkeetal., author = {S{\"u}ß, Franz and Kubowitsch, Simone and Verkerke, Gijsbertus Jacob and Dendorfer, Sebastian}, title = {The influence of mental stress on spinal disc loading and muscle activity}, series = {23th Congress of the European Society of Biomechanics, Sevilla, Spain, 2017}, booktitle = {23th Congress of the European Society of Biomechanics, Sevilla, Spain, 2017}, language = {en} }