Knee Bracing in Human Movement: Biomechanics, Artificial Intelligence, and Optimization
A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2026 | Viewed by 23
Special Issue Editors
Interests: lower limb injury prediction; performance optimization; medical finite element; musculoskeletal modeling; machine learning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Knee bracing systems are widely used in human movement and rehabilitation to provide joint stability, reduce injury risk, and enhance functional performance. As knee injuries remain prevalent across athletic and clinical populations, there is a growing demand for more intelligent, adaptive, and biomechanically effective bracing solutions that are tailored to individual movement patterns.
Recent advances in human movement science, including biomechanical modeling, artificial intelligence (AI), and sensor-based analyses, have significantly improved the evaluation of knee braces. These innovations allow for the real-time monitoring, personalized optimization, and predictive modeling of joint mechanics. Moreover, data-driven approaches such as machine learning, musculoskeletal simulation, and optimization algorithms have created new possibilities for smart bracing systems that dynamically respond to user-specific needs and sports-specific demands. In addition to enhancing evaluation frameworks, these tools facilitate a deeper understanding of how bracing modulates neuromuscular control, joint mechanics, and tissue-level stress responses during movement.
In parallel, the emergence of human-in-the-loop (HITL) systems, assistive devices, and wearable exoskeletons has further enhanced the potential of knee bracing technologies. HITL approaches incorporate real-time user feedback and physiological responses into adaptive control frameworks, enabling more intuitive and responsive support. Grounded in a mechanistic understanding of human movement, these approaches may enhance rehabilitation by supporting adaptive motor control, reducing cognitive effort, and optimizing joint function in complex tasks. These insights contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the biomechanics and physiological pathways affected by external joint stabilization.
This Special Issue aims to explore the intersection between biomechanics, neuromechanical mechanisms, and HITL strategies in understanding and optimizing knee bracing interventions. We welcome original research and reviews on topics including (but not limited to) the biomechanical analysis of bracing effects, the neuromechanical mechanisms of joint support, musculoskeletal modeling, functional adaptations in rehabilitation, and performance or rehabilitation outcomes, particularly those linked to physiological and pathological mechanisms in sports and clinical contexts.
Dr. Zixiang Gao
Dr. Liangliang Xiang
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- knee bracing
- sports biomechanics
- neuromechanical mechanisms
- gait analysis
- functional movement adaptation
- AI in orthotics
- AI for brace performance
- musculoskeletal modeling
- finite element simulation
- real-time monitoring of knees
- human-in-the-loop control
- robotic exoskeleton integration
- human–machine interaction
- rehabilitation or injury prevention
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