The body models are public domain

Example 1: Pushing Model

Pushing is one of the most common manual work tasks and prevention of work-related injuries in this field holds a very large socio-economic potential. The AnyBody Modeling System™ enables simple investigations of muscle efforts and joint forces depending on postures and other workplace parameters.

In this example a hospital employee is pushing a bed with a total mass of 200 kg forward at an acceleration of 0.3 m/s^2. The duration of the push is 1.5 second. It is possible to choose three different heights of the horizontal handle bar: 0.9m, 1.1m and 1.3m.

Simulation reveals that the muscle effort as well as the elbow joint force during the push is smaller for the high position of the handle bar.

Click here to see a video of the simulation (2.2 MB).

Example 2: Fitness Equipment Model

Fitness equipment is a major field of application of the AnyBody Modeling System™. The system's ability to model the mechanism of the machine and its interaction with the human bodycreates the opportunity of optimizing the machine's load of the muscular system. In this example we have optimized the eccentricity of the wheel that the cable winds about to obtain an almost constant muscle effort throughout the arm curl.

Video available here (6.4 MB).

Read more about this case in the sports examples page.

Example 3: Spine Model

This example illustrates the movement capabiliies of the spine model. The model is driven by a so-called spine rhythm, which links the positions of the individual spinal vertebrae to the relative position of the pelvis and the thorax. The basis of the function is the deformation of an elastic beam, and the rhythm has been experientally verified for movements in the saggital plane.

Notice that the model automatically shifts the pelvis oposite the upper body to maintain balance.

Click here to see the video (10.4 MB).

Example 4: Gait Model

Gait is a major application of musculoskeletal modeling and one that holds a large potential for clinical applications of the technology. The idea behind the gait model is that movements recorded in a gait laboratory by motion capture technology can be imposed directly on the model together with measured ground reaction forces. With the movement and external forces known, the simulation can compute internal forces in the system and that way extend the applicability of gait analysis a lot.

Click here to see the video animation (7 Mb).

Click here to see the webcast presentation including comparisons between EMG and simulated muscle activities.

Example 5: Shoulder to Hand Model

This example demonstrates the reaction of the shoulder model to forces in the hand of different directions and magnitudes.

Example 6: Balance Model

The AnyBody Modeling System™ can automatically ensure that the body maintains balance. In this example, the model is carrying a rucksack with a weight of 20 kg. The model first extends the back and subsequently the center of mass of the rucksack is gradually moved 20 centimeters away from the body. The video shows how the body posture accomodates the changed weight distribution.

Example 7: Wheelchair Model

A large proportion of wheelchair users develop load-induced shoulder pain after several years of use. This wheelchair model can predict the shoulder joint forces for different positions of the axle with respect to the seat. by optimization of the parameters it is possible to find a position of the shaft that minimizes the forces in the gleno-humeral joint.

Example 8: Egress/Assistive Handle Model

With the ageing population, egress from automobiles is becoming an increasingly important subject. This model is built to investigate the importace of an assistive handle placed on the window frame.

Example 9: Shoulder Hand Wheel Model

This standard ergonomic example demonstrates the complex activation of shoulder muscles when turning a hand wheel.

Example 10: Shoulder Model

The AnyBody™ Shoulder model (click to enlarge).

Example 11: Pedaling Model

Animation of the AnyBody™ pedaling model. Click to download avi file (8 MB).

Example 12: Full Body Bicycling Model

Animation of a full body bicycling model. Click to download avi file (2.1 MB). Notice the shoulder muscle activity.

Example 13: Box Lifting Model

Animation of box lifting. The video shows two cases: (1) When the box is equipped with (invisible) handles and the hands require no friction to hold onto the box, and (2) when the hands must squeeze the box to provide friction to keep it from slipping (1.1 MB).

Example 14: Baseball Swing Model

A baseball swing. This movement is made "on the fly" and is not accurate. It's purpose is mostly to demonstrate that the system handles closed kinematic chains as when the two hands hold on to the bat or both feet touching the ground.