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Biomechanics in Musculoskeletal Systems: Recent Advances and Applications

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2025 | Viewed by 4406

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Interests: kinematic and kinetic analysis of the healthy and replaced knee; musculoskeletal modelling

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Guest Editor
KWS, Human Performance Lab, Schulthess Klinik, Zürich, Switzerland
Interests: knee surgery; total knee arthroplasty; golf biomechanics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Understanding the biomechanics of the human musculoskeletal system is essential for advancing clinical practices, improving rehabilitation strategies, and enhancing the design of medical devices.

This Special Issue aims to collect articles covering a diverse range of topics, from experimental investigations to computational modeling and simulations addressing the biomechanical function of the healthy and pathologic musculoskeletal systems. Contributions in this Special Issue may also explore the integration of new technologies (e.g., wearable sensors and artificial intelligence) for capturing and analyzing functionality of the joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

We eagerly await the submission of scientific manuscripts from experts in the field including engineers, biologists, and clinicians who pursued innovative approaches to address complex biomechanical problems, leading to groundbreaking advancements in the understanding and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.

This Special Issue welcomes the submission of original research and review papers covering (but not limited to) the following topics:

  • Musculoskeletal modelling;
  • Human motion analysis;
  • Personalized treatments;
  • Kinematic and kinetic analysis of the human joints;
  • Biomechanics of arthroplasty;
  • Muscle, tendon, and ligament function;
  • Muscle optimization;
  • Computer methods in musculoskeletal biomechanics;
  • Orthoses and prostheses.

Dr. Seyyed Hamed Hosseini Nasab
Dr. Renate List
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • musculoskeletal modelling
  • personalized treatments
  • kinematic and kinetic analysis of the human joints
  • muscle, tendon, and ligament function
  • muscle optimization
  • computer methods in musculoskeletal biomechanics
  • orthoses and prostheses

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 5004 KiB  
Article
Using Video-Fluoroscopy and Multibody Modelling to Unveil the Influence of a Gradually Reducing Femoral Radius on Ligament Elongation Patterns Following Posterior Cruciate-Retaining Total Knee Arthroplasty
by Seyyed Hamed Hosseini Nasab, Philipp Bänteli and Renate List
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(21), 9910; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14219910 - 29 Oct 2024
Viewed by 676
Abstract
Stability in total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) is mainly provided by soft tissue structures and the implant geometry. Paradoxical anterior translation could be decreased with a gradually reducing femoral radius compared to a dual-radii design. However, the influence of the sagittal curvature of the [...] Read more.
Stability in total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) is mainly provided by soft tissue structures and the implant geometry. Paradoxical anterior translation could be decreased with a gradually reducing femoral radius compared to a dual-radii design. However, the influence of the sagittal curvature of the femoral condyles on knee ligaments remains unclear. This study quantified the length change patterns of the medial and lateral collateral ligaments (MCL and LCL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in 15 subjects with a gradually reducing radius and 15 subjects with a dual-radii TKA. Kinematics obtained from video-fluoroscopy were used to drive personalised multibody knee models. The ligament lengths were analysed throughout complete cycles of level gait, stair descent, and sit-to-stand-to-sit activity. Regardless of the implant design, our results indicated flexion-dependent elongation patterns in all ligament bundles. Importantly, however, subjects with the dual-radii implant design exhibited higher ligament strains during the mid-flexion phase compared to those with gradually reducing designs. Our findings, therefore, emphasise the importance of the impact of subtle changes in implant geometry on the loading patterns of the knee soft tissues, which need to be acknowledged by implant manufacturers and orthopaedic surgeons. Full article
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12 pages, 2576 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Musculoskeletal Loads among Office Workers Due to Predicted BMI Increase
by Hanna Zadoń, Robert Michnik and Katarzyna Nowakowska-Lipiec
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(19), 8928; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14198928 - 3 Oct 2024
Viewed by 752
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of adult obesity is a major global health problem. Causes include sedentary lifestyles and physical inactivity, as well as the place and style of work. This work aimed to assess the impact of an increase in BMI, resulting from a [...] Read more.
The increasing prevalence of adult obesity is a major global health problem. Causes include sedentary lifestyles and physical inactivity, as well as the place and style of work. This work aimed to assess the impact of an increase in BMI, resulting from a sedentary lifestyle, on the functioning of the human musculoskeletal system during daily activities. Standing and sitting down were analyzed using numerical simulations in the AnyBody Modeling System. The results showed that by 2050, an increase in body weight will lead to an 11% increase in lumbar spine loads and up to 14% increase in knee and hip joint loads compared to 2015. Increased body weight will also increase muscle fatigue, requiring the body to exert more force to perform the same activities. The BMI change prediction model shows that the average man will be overweight or obese in the coming years, which will likely increase musculoskeletal loads. Full article
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14 pages, 3840 KiB  
Article
Image-Based Musculoskeletal Models to Accurately Reproduce a Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction Test In Silico
by Francesca Bottin, Marco Viceconti and Giorgio Davico
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(19), 8678; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14198678 - 26 Sep 2024
Viewed by 870
Abstract
Musculoskeletal models and computational simulations are increasingly employed in clinical and research settings, as they provide insights into human biomechanics by estimating quantities that cannot be easily measured in vivo (e.g., joint contact forces). However, their clinical application remains limited by the lack [...] Read more.
Musculoskeletal models and computational simulations are increasingly employed in clinical and research settings, as they provide insights into human biomechanics by estimating quantities that cannot be easily measured in vivo (e.g., joint contact forces). However, their clinical application remains limited by the lack of standardized protocols for developing personalized models, which in turn heavily rely on the modeler’s expertise and require task-specific validation. While motor tasks like walking and cycling have been widely studied, simulating a maximal knee extensor dynamometry test remains unexplored, despite its relevance in rehabilitation. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the minimum amount of experimental data required to accurately reproduce a maximal voluntary contraction test in silico. For nine healthy young females, four different subject-specific musculoskeletal models with increasing levels of personalization were developed by incorporating muscle volume data from medical images and electromyographic signal envelopes to adjust, respectively, muscle maximal isometric force and tetanic activation limits. At each step of personalization, simulation outcomes were compared to experimental data. Our findings suggest that to reproduce in silico accurately the isometric dynamometry test requires information from both medical imaging and electromyography, even when dealing with healthy subjects. Full article
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Review

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11 pages, 1530 KiB  
Review
Mid-Flexion Instability in Total Knee Arthroplasty: Insights from Robotic-Assisted Surgery
by Francesco Bosco, Fortunato Giustra, Giuseppe Rovere, Virginia Masoni, Salvatore Cassaro, Mauro Giambusso, Riccardo Giai Via, Alessandro Massè, Ludovico Lucenti and Lawrence Camarda
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(15), 6436; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14156436 - 24 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1222
Abstract
Despite technological advancements with robotic-assisted surgery, instability remains a challenge in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Mid-flexion instability (MFI) has been reported to cause patient dissatisfaction. With no universal diagnostic criteria, the MFI concept is still ambiguous, and no specific treatment algorithm is defined. [...] Read more.
Despite technological advancements with robotic-assisted surgery, instability remains a challenge in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Mid-flexion instability (MFI) has been reported to cause patient dissatisfaction. With no universal diagnostic criteria, the MFI concept is still ambiguous, and no specific treatment algorithm is defined. This study aims to analyze the MFI concept and risk factors and investigate how robotic surgery, compared to manual TKA, could impact the MFI concept. A comprehensive investigation of the current literature regarding MIF, focusing especially on its relationship with robotic surgery TKA, was conducted using the PubMed and Scopus databases. The MIF concept remains poorly understood, so it is crucial to prevent it by recognizing risk factors, which are technique-related, implant-related, and patient-related. Since robotics offers optimal balancing in TKA and reduces causes affecting MFI, it could indirectly impact and prevent this complication. This review suggests that robotics utilization improving TKA balancing has the potential to impact and reduce MFI. However, further research in this area is essential to provide insight regarding the role of robotics in mitigating the MFI risk. Full article
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