The AnyBody Repository, version 7 (Soeren Toerholm, PhD, 25. June, 2008)
This webcast gives an overview of the AnyScript Model Repository version 7. It explains the structure of the models, the available body parts, and the different sample applications. In terms of new body parts the repository contains a new neck model.

Simulating the dynamic muscle force in an index finger during tapping (Dr. John Wu, 22. May, 2008)
Since musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremities are believed to be associated with repetitive excessive muscle force production in the hands, understanding the time-dependent muscle forces during key tapping will help to explore the mechanisms of disease initiation and development. In the current study, we analyzed the dynamic muscle forces in an index finger during typing using a universal finger model developed on a platform of AnyBody. Seven muscles were included in the proposed model: flexor digitorum profundus (FP), flexor digitorum superficials (FS), extensor indicis (EI), extensor digitorum communis (EC), radial interosseous (RI), ulnar interosseous (UI), and lumbrical (LU). The time histories of impact force at the fingertip in the published studies are applied to drive the model. Our analysis indicates that the power generated by FP, EC, and EI muscles are predominant among all muscles, while the power generated in MCP joint is predominant among all three joints. The predicted time-histories of muscle forces agree well with the EMG measurements in the literature. Our results suggested that the muscle force is mainly induced by the impact force at the fingertip during tapping, rather than due to the mass moment inertia of the finger section.

Quantifying strain in the anterior cruciate ligament during voluntary and forced movements (Maja Rose, 29. April, 2008)
The anterior cruciate ligament is the most frequently injured knee ligament. Regardless of the great number of injuries, the trauma mechanisms are still unclear. A better understanding of the aetiology might increase the possibilities to prevent injuries and imrpove the rehabilitation strategies. This webcast presents a final year project from Institute of Mechanical Engineering of Aalborg University. The objective was to determine which trauma mechanisms have the potential to rupture the anterior cruciate ligament by quantifying the strain in the ligament during both voluntary and forced movements.

Cross-country skiing biomechanics using measurement driven full-body simulations (Joakim Holmberg, 19. February, 2008)
Studies of cross-country skiing biomechanics is traditionally based on measurements alone. Performing musculoskeletal simulations of cross-country skiing enhances the possibilities for studies of technique, equipment and injury prevention. The simulation model is based on the full-body model from the AnyBody model repository and measured boundary conditions (motion and pole forces). Results show consistency with literature and also reveal new information of load distribution between muscles. This application shows that it can be possible to use inverse dynamics and static optimization (i.e. the technology behind AnyBody) on rather fast and complex full-body motion. Furthermore, it shows one way of driving symmetrical movements that takes place mainly in the sagittal plane. (Due to copyright issues J. Holmberg has requested this webcast is not currently available for playback.)

Validation of Hip Joint Force Simulation by Gait Analysis (Catherine Manders, 29. January, 2008)
This webcast describes a study in which the validity of two gait models created in the musculoskeletal modelling programme AnyBody was investigated. The models used recorded force plate data and were driven kinematically with motion capture data. The contact force at the hip was calculated and compared to experimental data from instrumented hip prostheses available in the literature. Although there were some discrepancies between the model results and the literature data, the model results fell within the limits of patient to patient variation. To investigate the variation further, the torque at the hip, which is calculated directly from the force plate and kinematics data and is independent of the muscle recruitment model, was determined from the model and compared to the torque calculated for the literature subjects. (The webcast is available for playback.)

Coupling the AnyBody and ANSYS Software Suites for Biomedical Applications (Can Oszan, 5. December, 2007)
In the field of biomedical engineering, there are often more many applicable engineering softwares to choose from but none are comprehensive over the full spectrum of biomedical design. The ANSYS software suite has several advanced mechanical analysis tools but it can be difficult to find or create ready models of the biological world sufficient for ANSYS analysis. The AnyBody software application provides a versatile rigid body model of the skeleton as well as the muscles for detailed biomechanical analysis but does not provide facilities for neither deformable elements nor structural analysis. For a situation such as evaluating an implant design, neither of these software suites would provide a full solution. The best approach is to combine the benefits of both software by modeling the implant in both suites in an interdependent, coupled approach. This solution combines the results of the implant in the macro scale, by its effect on the entire body, as well as the micro level through finite element analysis on the implant. (The webcast is available for playback.)

Adjusting the Axle Placement in Wheelchair Users to Minimize Shoulder Joint Forces (Sarah Sullivan-Dubrowsky, 8. November, 2007)
This webcast is a demonstration of the construction and validation of a model of an individual with paraplegia propelling a wheelchair. This anthropometrically accurate model is driven kinematically with motion capture data and kinetically with recorded x-, y-, and z- forces from force-sensing push rims. Two validation techniques are used to build confidence in the model: 1.) experimental subject EMG activity is compared to corresponding muscle activity as calculated by AnyBody, and 2.) the torque (as opposed to the individual force-components) as calculated from the force-sensing push rims drives the model and the resulting force components are compared to the original push rim force outputs. With confidence in the model, we look at utilizing the AnyBody modeling system for quantitatively comparing the axle placement in wheelchair set-up and its effect on shoulder joint forces. (The webcast is available for playback.)

Development of a musculoskeletal simulator for swimming (Dr. Motomu Nakashima, 3. October, 2007)
There have been no studies of the musculoskeletal analysis for swimming so far because of the difficulty to estimate the fluid force acting on the swimmer's whole body, although such analysis will provide useful information for the athlete swimmer's training and coaching. Therefore, we developed a musculoskeletal simulator for swimming by integrating the AnyBody Modeling System and our simulation model SWUM (SWimming hUman Model), which enables to calculate fluid force acting on the whole body during swimming. In this webcast, how to integrate AnyBody and SWUM, simulation results of animations for crawl, breast, back and butterfly strokes, and a comparison with EMG are presented. (The webcast is available for playback.)

A detailed rigid-body cervical spine model based on inverse dynamics (Dr. Mark de Zee, 18. September, 2007)
This webcast presents a detailed model of the cervical spine, which recently has been presented at the ISB congress in Taipei. We will go through the model and its assumptions including the muscles and a preliminary validation. Moreover an application will be presented where we try to predict neuromuscular adaptation of experimentally induced neck pain using the cervical spine model. (The webcast is available for playback.)

Assessing the Importance of Motion Dynamics for Ergonomic Analysis of Manual Materials Handling Tasks (David Wagner, 14. August, 2007)
Most current applications of human figure models for ergonomic assessments focus on the analysis of a static posture. However, many tasks of ergonomic interest also include a dynamic component and it is left to the user to assess whether that dynamic contribution is negligible to the results of the analysis. Unfortunately, most commercial ergonomics packages do not include the capacity to perform dynamics analysis making it difficult to quantitatively justify the static assumption. In this webcast, we look at utilizing the AnyBody modeling system for quantitatively comparing a dynamic and assumed static analysis. Comparisons between low back moments and muscle forces for an asymmetric lifting task are presented. (The webcast is available for playback.)

Online Modeling Demo (Dr. Soeren Toerholm, 30. May, 2007)
This webcast is an online demonstration of the construction of a model turning a hand wheel based on the existing model library. We grab the existing standing model from the repository, define the hand wheel, hook the human model up with the wheel, and modify the kinematic constraints of the model such that the hand movement is given by the kinematics of the wheel. (The webcast is available for playback.)

Validation of the AnyBody version of the Dutch Shoulder Model by the in-vivo measurement of GH contact forces by Bergmann et al. (Prof. John Rasmussen, 26. April, 2007)
Bergmann et al recently published the first results of in-vivo measurement of gleno-humeral contact forces using an instrumented shoulder implant. In this presentation we compare the data of Bergmann et al. with results from AnyBody. We specifically look at the contact forces during abduction and their dependency on choice of muscle recruitment criterion. (The webcast is available for playback.)

Biomechanics and Computer-Aided Ergonomics (Prof. John Rasmussen, 12. April, 2007)
Note: This presentation is an English language version webcast presentation of Prof. John Rasmussen's inaugural lecture presented at Aalborg University, March 27, 2007. Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) allows us to analyze almost any technical property of a product. However, the human interface to the product, the ergonomics, has so far eluded most attempts of mathematical modeling due to its mechanical complexity and the involvement of the human central nervous system. Therefore, ergonomics has remained a quantitative, experience-based science. This is all about to change. It is now possible to reliably analyze the biomechanics of the human body in conjunction with its environment, and it is even possible to optimize products to provide maximum safety, maximum comfort, maximum usability and other ergonomics-type properties. Ergonomics is becoming an engineering discipline, and CAE in the future will include the concept of Computer-Aided Ergonomics. (The webcast is available for playback.)

Kinematic Analysis of Over-determinate Systems (Michael Skipper Andersen, 22. February, 2007)
When it is desired to drive a musculo-skeletal model from measured marker trajectories from a motion capture experiment, it is very often the case that the resulting set of kinematic equations is over-determinate and the solution set is empty. To accommodate this problem, some compromise has to be made, i.e. either by excluding some of the measured markers from consideration or allowing some of the equations to be violated. In this webcast, we will demonstrate a general method for handling over-determinate mechanical systems. The presented formalism includes forward- and inverse- kinematics as special cases and also allows for analysis of both open and closed kinematic chains. (The webcast is available for playback.)

Scaling strength in human simulation models (Dr. Kenneth Meijer, 17. January, 2007)
Simulating human movement, with multi-body models, enables virtual experiments that are too difficult, costly or dangerous to perform in reality. When simulation models are used for subject specific goals, like planning a rehabilitation intervention, it is important that they are based on subject-specific data. Therefore, accurate strength scaling, accounting for subject specific differences, is required. Unfortunately, current strength scaling methods are poorly validated. The aim of this study was to develop scaling laws of increasing complexity and validate them with experimental data on upper leg and arm strength. (The webcast is available for playback.)

A generic detailed rigid-body lumbar spine model (Dr. Mark de Zee, 4. December, 2006)
This webcast presents a detailed model of the lumbar spine, which recently has been published in the Journal of Biomechanics. We will go through the model and its assumptions including the muscles, intra-abdominal pressure and validation. With the presented model it will be possible to investigate a range of research questions, because the model is relatively easy to share and modify, available in the public domain repository. (The webcast is available for playback.)

The Seated Human Project (Dr. John Rasmussen, 20. November, 2006)
The AnyBody Research Project has developed a detailed model of a seated human in cooperation with the furniture industry. This model is available in the public domain repository. The model allows us to investigate the classical discussions in seating ergonomics: Seat inclination, fabric friction, lumbar support, backrest height, etc. This webcast presents the model and reviews some of the more interesting results. (The webcast is available for playback.)

Validation of musculoskeletal models (Dr. Mark de Zee, 4. October, 2006)
Musculoskeletal simulation predicts muscle forces, and muscle forces are (almost) impossible to measure directly. So how to validate models? This webcast introduces a couple of workarounds that will allow you to verify the accuracy of your models. (The webcast is available for playback.)

How to synthesize posture and movement with inverse dynamics (Dr. John Rasmussen, 25. September, 2006)
It is a popular misconception that posture and movement prediction can only be done with forward dynamics. In this webcast we show that inverse dynamics is so computationally efficient that an optimization algorithm can be wrapped around it and unknown postures and movements can be predicted based on performance criteria. (The webcast is available for playback.)

Gait Modeling (Dr. John Rasmussen, 31. August, 2006)
Gait analysis is one of the most important and well-established clinical applications of biomechanics. With a musculoskeletal model you can look under the skin of the patient and obtains estimates of joint and muscle forces. The questions are: how is it done, and to which extent can we rely on the results? This webcast will attempt to answer those questions. (The webcast is available for playback.)

Kinematics (Dr. John Rasmussen, 14. June, 2006)
This webcast explains some of the more advanced kinematics features in AnyBody.

The AnyBody Modeling System: News in Version 2 (Dr. John Rasmussen, 18. May, 2006)
This webcast highlights the new facilities in version 2 of The AnyBody Modeling System. The major news of version 6 of the AnyScript Model Repository is also covered. (The webcast is available for playback.)

Anthropometric Scaling of Musculoskeletal Models (Dr. John Rasmussen, 9. May, 2006)
This webcast explains in detail and with a live demonstration the various options available for body model scaling in AnyBody. (The webcast is available for playback.)

The AnyBody Model Repository (Dr. Soeren Toerholm Christensen, 4. April, 2006)
This webcast gives an overview of the AnyScript Model Repository version 6. It explains the structure of the models, the available body parts, and the different sample applications. Furthermore, examples of friction modeling, conditional contact, and anthropometric scaling are briefly presented. (The webcast is available for playback.)

Muscle Modeling (Dr. John Rasmussen, 6. March, 2006)
This webcast presents the different muscles models available in the AnyBody modeling system. This includes Hill-type strength models. Furthermore, the muscle wrapping model (for bony surfaces) is briefly presented, and finally, the muscle recruitment optimization problem is discussed. (The webcast is available for playback.)

A Patient Specific Mandible Model (Dr. Mark de Zee, 8. February, 2006)
Dr. Mark de Zee presents the progress of his research project at Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. The webcast describes the continuation of the work presented in the webcast Sep. 9, 2005.

Understanding the AnyScript Language (Dr. John Rasmussen, 17. January, 2006)

Ergonomic optimization and posture prediction (Dr. John Rasmussen, 11. January, 2006)

A Rigid-Body Mandible Model (Dr. Mark de Zee, 7. September, 2005)

Gait Modeling (Dr. John Rasmussen, 21. June, 2005)
The gait model is included in version 5 of the AnyScript Model Repository

Shoulder Modeling and Analysis (Dr. Soeren Toerholm Christensen, 20. April, 2005)
Shoulder model applications are included in version 5 of the AnyScript Model Repository