anybodytech.com: Documentation

Documentation overview

Overview of the documentation subpages.

The AnyBody Modeling System tutorials: This is a good place to start learning how to do musculoskeletal modeling in the AnyBody Modeling System.

The AnyBody Managed Model Repository (AMMR) documentation: The AMMR documentation page contains detailed information about the models and how to use them.

Getting Started Videos: Find an overview of the Getting Started videos which can help you get started with the AnyBody Modeling System.

Publication list: Check out what our existing users have achieved. Filter our list of hundreds of publications to find your topic of interest.

AnyScript.org: An open community for users of the AnyBody Modeling System and resource for writing AnyScript code. Managed jointly by the AnyBody Research Group and AnyBody Technology.

Forum: A place to give and get help from fellow AnyBody users.

Wiki: Find a wealth of information and tips & tricks.

Blog: Browse through several blog posts.

GitHub repositories: Download cutting edge models and join the development.

Case Story Library

Fact sheet: AnyBody Exporter for SOLIDWORKS	2017.12.15	Download
SOLIDWORKS modeling interface to AnyBody. An add-in for SOLIDWORKS.
Case story: Autodesk	2017.11.20	Download
Generative design of a bike frame with the AnyBody Modeling System.
Wearable Exoskeleton Modeling	2016.11.17	Download
Optimized design of exoskeletons targeting either individual users or groups of users with different body anthropometries or capabilities.
Overview: AnyBody Technology	2019.04.26	Download
A general AnyBody overview.
Fact sheet: AnyGait	2015.08.04	Download
Gait analysis with AnyBody. Adding muscles to your gait lab.
Case story: Grand Challenge	2015.08.04	Download
How AnyBody was used for winning the Grand Challenge competition to predict in vivo knee loads.
Case story: Simpleware-ANSYS	2012.06.08	Download
Highlights the ease of integrating subject specific bone models with AnyBody to provide a movement specific loading case for a finite element (FE) analysis.
Case story: ARO Medical	2012.11.20	Download
How ARO Medical used AnyBody to demonstrate the need for a new spine device.
Case story: Ford	2012.11.20	Download
How Ford used AnyBody to quantify key design parameters of the Active Motion™ seat.

Previous Webcast Library

The webcast library provide AnyBody webcasts on-demand. Most webcasts are available on YouTube as well as downloadable video file and presentation files.

Musculoskeletal modeling for the evolutionary biologist: A primer

(Dr. Adam D. Sylvester, Associate Professor, Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 12. October, 2021)

Presentation (4MB)
Playback (96MB)
YouTube

Musculoskeletal modeling is positioned at the intersection of engineering and an understanding of biological variation. It is the preeminent technique for investigating the internal workings of the musculoskeletal system. Elucidating sources and understanding the evolutionary causes and ramifications of human biological variation is a core competency of biological anthropology. Similar questions motivate researchers in other fields that focus on other animals. This webinar explores the ways in which biological anthropologists, and other evolutionary biologists, can leverage the tremendous progress made in musculoskeletal modeling to answer questions of human (and other animal) biology. Additionally, these same researchers can help refine musculoskeletal models with their understanding of biological variation. Human walking will be used as the primary example because its evolution and modern biomechanics have figured so prominently in human evolutionary research.

Xsens & AnyBody: Taking Biomechanics To The Next Level

(Felix Wolbert, Markus Skagbrant, Pavel Galibarov, Dr. Sebastian Skals, Dr. Jason Konrath, 13. June, 2021)

Playback (562MB)
YouTube

The AnyBody Modeling System allows the simulation of the human body in concert with its environment. Advanced simulations can be run to calculate individual muscle forces, joint contact forces and moments, metabolism and many other parameters. The integration of Xsens Motion Capture data enables users to have the best quality data as an input to ensure an accurate and reliable process. In this webinar we will share workflow, benefits and applications of using Xsens motion capture in combination with AnyBody Technology.

A model-based methodology to predict the biomechanical consequences of tibial insert thickness after total knee arthroplasty

(Periklis Tzanetis, PhD Candidate, University of Twente, Netherlands, 06. May, 2021)

Presentation (2MB)
Playback (56MB)
YouTube

Total knee arthroplasty is an effective surgical intervention for end-stage knee osteoarthritis, aiming to relieve the pain and restore the normal knee joint function. One of the surgical choices in total knee arthroplasty is the thickness of the tibial insert, the optimal selection of which is important to ensure soft-tissue balance and restore the physiological function in the tibiofemoral joint, thus, reducing the risk of implant-related complications. Computational models of the musculoskeletal system can be a valuable input into the intraoperative decision-making procedure. Personalized musculoskeletal knee models can predict variations in the knee joint loads and kinematics due to changes in implant design or provide quantitative patient-specific information in terms of the mechanical behavior of the knee joint structures, and therefore, can aid orthopedic surgeons to formulate an optimal treatment plan tailored to the individual patient.

A methodology to evaluate the effects of kinematic measurement uncertainties on knee ligament properties estimated from laxity measurements

(Associate Professor Michael Skipper Andersen, Aalborg University, Denmark, 07. April, 2021)

Presentation (5MB)
Playback (75MB)
YouTube

Ligaments are important joint stabilizers but assessing their mechanical properties remain challenging. In vivo, the mechanical properties cannot be measured directly and, therefore, have to be estimated from indirect measurements. A common approach to this end is to perform laxity tests on the knee, e.g. anterior and posterior drawer, varus/valgus and internal/external rotation tests and record the knee kinematics under these externally applied loads. By utilizing computation knee models, the ligament properties of the knee model are optimized until the laxity profile of the model matches the measured laxity profile and hereby estimates of the ligament properties are obtained. However, when performing the laxity tests, measurement uncertainties will arise both in the measured kinematics as well as in the applied forces and moments. In this webcast, Associate Professor Michael Skipper Andersen from Aalborg University will present a methodology to investigate the effects of kinematic measurement uncertainty during laxity tests on optimization-based estimates of ligament properties. We will apply this methodology to a subject-specific knee model with known ligament properties on which we virtually perform laxity tests to obtain noise free knee laxity profiles. To the resulting laxity profile, we add random kinematic noise and estimate the ligament properties from the noisy data. These estimates are then compared to the known knee ligament properties that were input to the model and the effects of the kinematic noise on the estimated ligament properties can hereby be quantified.

Introduction to AnyBodyRun – A web application for running biomechanics

(Professor John Rasmussen, Head of the biomechanics research group at the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Aalborg University, Denmark, 09. February, 2021)

Presentation (4MB)
Playback (110MB)
YouTube

Anybodyrun.com was recently released to the public. On this site, you can create a biomechanical model that supposedly runs like you do, and you can investigate what-if scenarios, for instance: How will my calorie consumption be affected if I take shorter steps? How much larger will the loads from the ground on my body be if I run a little bit faster? The site is a simplified version of a technology that is much more comprehensive. Join us for this webcast to get the scientific background for all of it and to understand what it can do for you.

Biomechanical investigation of a passive upper extremity exoskeleton for manual material handling – A computational parameter study

(Bo E. Seiferheld, M.Sc. Sports Technology, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Denmark, 12. January, 2021)

Presentation (4MB)
Playback (106MB)
YouTube

Manual material handling tasks at supermarket stores is a very common activity and it is associated with the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. This presentation will show how on-site data recordings can be used together with the AnyBody Modeling System to assess the benefits of a passive upper extremity exoskeleton as a protective device. Additionally, it will provide an interesting computational parameter approach to investigate how to adjust an exoskeleton to fit a specific task.

Physical stresses on caregivers when repositioning patients in bed

(Jie Zhou, Ergonomics researcher at Hillrom, Ph.D, AEP, 10. December, 2020)

Presentation (3MB)
Playback (74MB)
YouTube

Repositioning patients in bed is the most common patient handling activity and is associated with musculoskeletal disorders in caregivers. Repositioning aids may mitigate the risk of injury. The current study investigated the effects of commonly used repositioning aids on the physical stress on caregivers.

A new musculoskeletal AnyBody™ detailed hand model

(Lucas Engelhardt, Researcher at the Scientific Computing Centre Ulm, Germany & Maximilian Melzner, Research Assistant at the Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg, Germany, 01. December, 2020)

Presentation (4MB)
Playback (69MB)
YouTube

Musculoskeletal research questions regarding the prevention or rehabilitation of the hand can be addressed using inverse dynamics simulations. To date, no complete human hand model implemented in a holistic human body model has been fully developed. Hence, the aim of this work was to develop, implement, and validate a fully detailed hand model using the AnyBody Modeling System.

Understanding the mechanical environment of the hip joint

(Jan Van Houcke, MD PhD, hip surgeon at the OLV Hospital in Aalst, Belgium, 25. November, 2020)

Presentation (9MB)
Playback (163MB)
YouTube

Jan Van Houcke used his prestigious PhD scholarship to investigate the mechanical causes for cartilage lesions in the hip joint. In his presentation, he will talk about the clinical perspective on the topic and how he used personalized musculoskeletal models to quantify hip kinetics during deep squatting in asymptomatic volunteers. Jan is joined by his former mentor, Prof Dr Emmanuel Audenaert from Ghent University for this presentation.

Creating an ergonomic assessment - from recording, to a biomechanical analysis to report

(Jonas Bornmann, Ottobock & Maria Cabral, Xsens & Pavel Galibarov, AnyBody Technology & Lars Fritzsche, IMK, 11. November, 2020)

Playback (205MB)
YouTube

Occupational exoskeletons as advanced ergonomic devices – How the AnyBody Modeling System can be applied

(Mark Tröster, Associate Researcher at Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, Germany, 05. November, 2020)

Playback (95MB)
YouTube

This presentation will give an overview of how the AnyBody Modeling System can be applied within an iterative Ergonomics-Technology-Product Development loop to (1) assess the ergonomics of a workplace on-site, (2) analyse isolated load scenarios within parametrizable boundary conditions in laboratory experiments and (3) digitally test and optimize mechanical exoskeleton concepts.

Introduction to Innophys and their wearable exoskeleton

(Daigo Orihara, CEO of Innophys, 15. October, 2020)

Playback (176MB)
YouTube

Innophys was founded in 2013 and develops exoskeleton products backed by the research of Tokyo University of Science. This presentation introduces the company and its latest wearable exoskeleton. More than 10000 units have been sold.

New features in the AnyBody Modeling System Version 7.3

(Morten Enemark Lund, Sr. R&D Engineer at AnyBody Technology, 06. October, 2020)

Presentation (3MB)
Playback (63MB)
YouTube

Join us for a tour of the new AnyBody Modeling System 7.3 and new AnyBody Managed Model Repository. We will guide you through the exciting new features, which include: Vastly improved simulation speed and robustness due to a fast algorithm for muscle wrapping. A new model view system, which keeps the model view state between reloads and makes modeling easier. The Model repository also includes many new features and models which we will cover in the webcast. For example, improvements of the shoulder, and a new large-scale MoCap model of walking with 49 subjects and ~1000 trials.

Effect of mental demand on leg loading in highly dynamic motion

(Simon Auer, Ph.D student and research assistant at the Laboratory for Biomechanics at OTH Regensburg, 29. September, 2020)

Presentation (3MB)
Playback (88MB)
YouTube

Football players have a high risk of leg muscle injuries, especially when exposed to mental stress. Injuries to muscles of the thigh are common in amateur and professional football, representing almost a third of all injuries. These injuries occur primarily in non-contact situations and from overuse. They can lead to a range of costs, including financial costs associated with treatment as well as those associated with long-term recovery, and absence from training and/or competition. Further, there is a high risk of injury recurrence and subsequent injury.

Musculoskeletal modeling of manual materials handling in the Danish supermarket sector

(Sebastian Laigaard Skals, Ph.D. student at the National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Aalborg University, 28. July, 2020)

Presentation (3MB)
Playback (74MB)
YouTube

Every third Danish worker performs manual lifting as part of their daily work tasks, which is a well-known risk factor for the development of back pain. However, existing ergonomic methods for assessing the load on the back during lifting are predominantly based on static or quasi-static biomechanical models, which underestimate the load considerably compared with dynamic models. As a result of decades of research as well as technological developments, it is now possible to use anatomically detailed musculoskeletal models for dynamic analyses of manual lifting tasks. Therefore, the purpose of this project was to extensively analyze the load on the back for a wide range of lifting tasks in the Danish supermarket sector based on state-of-the-art methods for motion analysis and musculoskeletal modeling. This approach will provide new insight into the internal load on the body during common lifting tasks and be an important step towards preventing work-related back disorders in the future.

Subject-specific lower limb modeling and evaluation with a force-dependent kinematics natural knee model

(David Leandro Dejtiar, M.Sc. from Aalborg University, 06. May, 2020)

Presentation (4MB)
Presentation (spanish) (4MB)
Playback (99MB)
Playback (spanish) (145MB)
YouTube
YouTube (spanish)

Magnetic resonance image (MRI)-based musculoskeletal models represent a powerful tool to estimate the effect of surgical interventions in patients. In this project, we developed a MRI-based subject-specific model with a detailed natural knee joint capable of simultaneously estimate ligament, muscle, tibiofemoral and patellofemoral joint contact forces and secondary joint kinematics. Motion capture and force plate data were used to drive model simulations. Secondary knee joint kinematics where evaluated with subject and motion-specific biplanar X-Ray slot scans, where accurate kinematic estimations were found.

Spinal Loading During Lifting Using Inertial Motion Capture

(Frederik Greve Larsen, Cand.Scient.Tech. from Aalborg University, 19. March, 2020)

Presentation (4MB)
Playback (118MB)
YouTube

In this webcast Frederik Greve Larsen will present his study, which evaluates the concurrent validity of a musculoskeletal model driven exclusively using inertial measurement units and ground reaction force prediction for estimating low back forces during various lifting tasks. The results were compared to a standard analysis approach with a musculoskeletal model driven with reflective markers and measured ground reaction forces. The results interestingly showed inertial measurement units can be used to drive a musculoskeletal model, and therefore compute low back loading during manual material lifting. We believe that this methodology can be highly useful for estimating relative low back loading under dynamic conditions during manual material handling in the field.

Prediction of Kinetic Variables during Parkinsonian Gait using Depth Sensor-driven Musculoskeletal Modeling

(Associate Professor Moataz Eltoukhy, Ph.D., Department of Kinesiology and Sport Sciences at University of Miami, Florida, 09. January, 2020)

Presentation (11MB)
Playback (656MB)
YouTube

Join us to learn how researchers from the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Sciences at University of Miami, Florida are using musculoskeletal modeling to investigate kinetics of patients with Parkinson's disease. In this webcast Associate Professor Moataz Eltoukhy, Ph.D. will show how the AnyBody platform was used to drive a full body musculoskeletal model using a single depth sensor to predict the ground reaction forces produced during over-ground forward gait in elderly population diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD). This research was driven by the fact that kinetic gait abnormalities result in reduced mobility among individuals with PD, and that currently, the assessment of gait kinetics can only be achieved using costly force plates, which makes it difficult to implement in most clinical settings. Also, the Microsoft Kinect v2 has been shown to be a feasible clinic-based alternative to more sophisticated three-dimensional motion analysis systems in producing acceptable spatiotemporal and kinematic gait parameters. Therefore, in this study, they aimed to validate a Kinect- driven musculoskeletal model using the AnyBody modeling system to predict three-dimensional ground reaction forces (GRFs) during gait in patients with PD.

Scapulothoracic Rhythm Affects Glenohumeral Joint Force

(Cesar Flores, Research associate, Shiley Center for Orthopedic Research and Education at Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, 19. November, 2019)

Presentation (2MB)
Playback (486MB)
YouTube

In this webcast research associate Cesar Flores will present his group's work on generating a large population of AnyBody models to investigate shoulder loads. The study was done using a virtual population of 1000 shoulder models with statistically generated inputs for subject height, humeral head radius, acromiohumeral interval, and scapulothoracic rhythm. The main finding was that the scapular rhythm (the ratio of arm elevation contributed by rotation at the glenohumeral joint vs the scapulothoracic joint) was a major factor influencing glenohumeral joint forces.

Advancing knee joint modeling towards clinical use

(Christine Dzialo, R&D Engineer, AnyBody Technology, 19. June, 2019)

Presentation (3MB)
Playback (236MB)
YouTube

Join us to learn more about new advancements in knee joint modeling. We will present a novel moving-axis knee joint and demonstrate how to implement your own user-defined knee joint into the full body model.

New features in the AnyBody Modeling System 7.2

(Morten Enemark Lund, Sr. R&D Engineer, AnyBody Technology and Christine Dzialo, R&D Engineer, AnyBody Technology, 21. May, 2019)

Presentation (3MB)
Playback (259MB)
YouTube

Join us for a tour of the new AnyBody Modeling System 7.2 and new AnyBody Managed Model Repository 2.2. We will guide you through the exciting new features, which include: New Plugins system, built-in Python 3.7, and many small improvements. The Model repository also includes many new features and models which we will cover in the webcast. For example, a new wrapping implementation of the deltoid muscle, a new graphical user interface for configuring body models, and new knee simulation and posture prediction example models

A novel workflow using AnyBody Modeling System and Mechanical Finder to do finite element analysis of osteoarthritic gait

(Associate Professor Daisuke Tawara, PhD, Department of Mechanical and Systems Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Ryukoku University, 04. December, 2018)

Presentation (10MB)
Playback (175MB)
YouTube

Lower extremity muscle forces in abnormal gait and their improvement after total hip arthroplasty (THA) in hip osteoarthritis are closely related to the gait motion and disease seriousness. Therefore, subject-specific prediction is necessary to assess joint reaction forces, muscle forces and stress distribution of bone around the hip. To achieve this, a workflow with the AnyBody Modeling System (AMS) in combination with Mechanical Finder (MF), a popular software made in Japan specialized for finite element analysis (FEA) of bone reflecting heterogeneous material properties, was established. In this webcast, we will show a change in stress distributions of femur in the gait motion of a hip osteoarthritis patient before and after THA.

Application of Motion Analyses and Digital Human Modeling for the Ergonomic Evaluation of Handbrakes in Passenger Vehicles

(Dr. Andrea Upmann, Ford-Werke GmbH Cologne and Dipl.-Math. Jessica Rausch, Ford Research & Innovation Center Aachen, 29. November, 2018)

Presentation (1MB)
Playback (114MB)
YouTube

Comfort is an important factor in product buying decisions. Therefore, vehicle manufacturers aim to develop ergonomic vehicles that minimize occupants’ discomfort. The handbrake is an essential control in vehicles. This work provides the first demonstration that the perceived discomfort of the handbrake application can reliably be predicted based on postural, biomechanical and mathematical modelling. In two studies, 117 and 40 subjects, respectively, rated the discomfort for several handbrake variants while their motion was recorded. Afterwards, the handbrake application was modeled in the Digital Human Modeling software RAMSIS and the biomechanical software AnyBody Modeling System. Calculated biomechanical parameters included joint reactions, joint muscle moment measures, muscle activities, joint angles as well as metabolic power and energy. Stepwise regression was applied to develop a prediction model for discomfort. The herewith calculated discomfort was well in line with the subjects’ ratings. As a result, a user-friendly procedure has been proposed to quantify handbrake discomfort with DHMs, which are typically available in automotive development. This method can be applied at early stages of the automotive development to enhance the ergonomics of the vehicle interior. It allows for increasing efficiency and objectivity as well as for saving resources and budget. Andrea and Jessica will provide an insight into the multi-step study detailed in Andrea’s dissertation. The project was enabled in cooperation between three Ford departments and the Institute of Biomechanics and Orthopedics at the German Sport University Cologne.

Cross-Country Sit-Skiing

(Marie Lund Ohlsson, Mid Sweden University, 27. September, 2018)

Presentation (4MB)
Playback (372MB)
YouTube

Cross-country sit-skiing is an endurance sport in the Winter Paralympics where athletes, with impairment in legs and/or trunk, compete sitting in a sledge mounted on a pair of skis and propel themselves with a pair of poles. Senior Lecturer Marie Lund Ohlsson from the Swedish Winter Sport Research Centre at Mid Sweden University defended her thesis in March with the title: Double Poling in Cross-Country Skiing - Biomechanical and Physiological Analysis of Sitting and Standing Positions. In this webcast, Marie will show results from AnyBody simulations of seated double poling of both joint reactions and muscular work.

LifeLongJoints: Musculoskeletal validation and wear simulation

(Professor Stephen J. Ferguson and Ph.D. Candidate Enrico De Pieri, Laboratory for Orthopaedic Technology, ETH Zürich, 14. June, 2018)

Presentation (9MB)
Playback (166MB)
YouTube

In this webcast, Prof. Stephen J. Ferguson and PhD candidate Enrico De Pieri from ETH Zürich will show their work to model hip joint loading with the aim to predict wear in hip implants. The work is part of LifeLongJoints, an EU funded project with the scope of investigating new coating materials and testing methods for joint replacement. You will hear about the overall objectives of modelling wear in hip implants from Prof. Ferguson, while Enrico De Pieri will show the improvements of the TLEM2 model from the AnyBody Managed Model Repository and its results in predicting hip loads. You will also be guided through the pipeline of processing a dataset of 130 patients performing a variety of activities of daily living and have the opportunity to see some of the initial results depicting the variability in the loads that the hip implants have to withstand. These models are based on the open dataset, which was presented in the April webcast by researchers from the University of Leeds and the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. As part of this webcast, we are releasing the model used to process the hip joint loads. It will allow you to run the analysis yourself as new data is released into the open dataset created for the LifeLongJoints project at the University of Leeds. More background on the LifeLongJoints project and details on the Leeds data set can be found in the April webcast. LifeLongJoints received funding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under Grant Agreement no. GA-310477 (The LifeLongJoints project, www.lifelongjoints.eu).

Workflow assessing the effect of gait alterations on stresses in the medial tibial cartilage

(Associate Professor Michael Skipper Andersen and Ph.D. Kimmo Halonen, Aalborg University, 22. May, 2018)

Presentation (6MB)
Playback (172MB)
YouTube

In this webcast, Associate Professor Michael Skipper Andersen and PhD Kimmo Halonen will present a new method of combining musculoskeletal (MS) modeling with finite element (FE) analysis to study the effect of gait modifications on the stresses in the medial tibial cartilage. The webcast shows some of the most advanced and cutting-edge research involving the AnyBody Modeling System for musculoskeletal modeling. The work was recently published in Nature Scientific Reports. Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is most common in the medial tibial compartment; early interventions therefore aim to unload the medial compartment. However, these interventions are typically evaluated with the so-called Knee Adduction Moment (KAM), which has recently been criticized because it does not provide a direct link to the cartilage load. The aim was, therefore, to study the subject-specific effect of gait modifications and lateral wedge insoles (LWIs) on the stresses in the medial tibial cartilage by combining musculoskeletal (MS) modelling with finite element (FE) analysis. A full lower extremity MRI and a detailed knee MRI were taken of the subject's knee. Subsequently, the bones and most soft tissues were segmented from images, and the generic bone architecture of the MS model was morphed into the segmented bones. The subject’s gait was recorded in a gait laboratory, walking normally, with 5° and 10° LWIs, toes inward (‘Toe in’), and toes outward (‘Toe out wide’) and imported to the MS model. The output forces from the MS model were then used as input in the FE model of the subject’s knee. During stance, LWIs failed to reduce the medial peak pressures apart from insole 10° during the second peak. Toe in reduced peak pressures by −11% during the first peak but increased them by 12% during the second. Toe out wide reduced peak pressures by −15% during the first and increased them by 7% during the second. The results show that the work flow can assess the effect of interventions on an individual level. In the future, this method can be applied to patients with KOA and ongoing work in this respect will be shown during the webcast.

Model validation using the anatomical reachable 3-D workspace

(Miguel Nobre Castro, MSc, Biomedical Engineer, Ph.D. Student at Aalborg University, 26. April, 2018)

Presentation (5MB)
Playback (153MB)
YouTube

The application of musculoskeletal models in biomechanical studies, clinical context and for virtual prototyping and testing has been increasing lately. Along with this comes the need for well-performing subject-specific models capable of replicating the subject’s strength. A new validation metric, the reachable 3-D workspace, will be addressed in this webcast, aiming to evaluate the performance of upper extremity musculoskeletal models. Initially, an experimental movement protocol will be presented, and the consequent computational procedures explained. The performance of standard geometrically and length-mass-fat scaled models will be investigated. Lastly, results obtained from strength-scaled models using simple dynamometric measurements will be presented and discussed.

Large dataset for assessment of joint replacements

(Professor Richard M. Hall, School of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Leeds & Post.Doc. David Lunn, Leeds NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, 19. April, 2018)

Presentation (4MB)
Playback (187MB)
YouTube

Conducted from 2013 and ending this year, LifeLongJoints is an EU funded project with the aim of investigating new coating materials and testing methods for joint replacement. Although vast in scope, the project involves very interesting biomechanical research. Both clinical and computational, targeting multi-scale physical and in-silico testing of implants using whole-body musculoskeletal modeling to joint and surface scale wear simulation. In this webcast, you will hear the efforts to create better joint replacements from the coordinator of LifeLongJoints Professor Richard M. Hall and Professor in Clinical Biomechanics Anthony Redmond talk about the work to analyze and stratify the functional outcomes of total hip arthroplasty patients performing a wide variety of activities of daily living. Post.doc David Lunn will present the work of creating a large open dataset from 130 patients and thousands of trials and outline the gradual release of the dataset for public use. You will also see some of the first results from using this data for implant testing and stratification of hip implant forces simulated with the AnyBody Modeling System. This is the first webcast in a series on the outcomes of the LifeLongJoints project. In the next webcast, we will focus on utilizing the clinical data collected for in-silico simulations. From musculoskeletal modeling to simulation of wear of implants. LifeLongJoints received funding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under Grant Agreement no. GA-310477 (The LifeLongJoints project, www.lifelongjoints.eu).

Knee internal contact forces in the knee osteoarthritis population

(Andrea Dell'Isola, Lecturer in Biomechanics, Edinburgh Napier University, 03. April, 2018)

Presentation (4MB)
Playback (100MB)
YouTube

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a heterogeneous pathology characterized by a complex and multifactorial nature. The identification of KOA phenotypes (i.e. subgroups of patients characterized by distinct disease mechanisms) would allow for targeted treatment and enhance treatment effects, which may otherwise be lost when looking at KOA as a whole. This webcast details the methods employed to identify biomechanical phenotypes characterized by alteration in the knee internal contact forces. Thirty-nine KOA patients and 18 controls were analyzed for the purpose of the study. Knee frontal alignment and MRI cartilage semi quantitative scores were used to classify the participants in subgroups characterized by different disease patterns (e.g. varus malalignment and medial OA, varus malalignment and bicompartmental OA). Kinematic data were collected at the Innovation Human Laboratory of Glasgow Caledonian University. The Twente lower extremity model (TLEM) was used to estimate the participants knee internal contact forces.

Simulations as a tool for human-centered exoskeleton design

(Ananth Gopalakrishnan, PhD, Application Engineer, AnyBody Technology, 28. February, 2018)

Presentation (4MB)
Playback (152MB)
YouTube

Designing an exoskeleton is sometimes more straightforward than understanding the benefits and dangers it poses to a human operator. Experimental testing may be a solution, but it also increases development time and costs, since full-scale prototypes and special equipment (motion sensors, VO2 measurement etc) are usually necessary. Additionally, it is almost impossible to observe all localized effects of an assistive device on the human body, eg: Does it overload the spine? In this webcast, Dr. Ananth Gopalakrishnan from AnyBody Technology, will make a case for computerized “musculoskeletal simulations” as solutions to some of the above issues. He will present case studies which use the “AnyBody Modeling System” software for design refinement and benefit evaluation, through computer models of human-exoskeleton interaction. The simulations build a detailed physiological picture of individual muscle activities & joint forces, metabolic energy and strap forces.

Development, validation and clinical applications of patient-specific musculoskeletal knee models

(Marco A. Marra, MSc, Biomedical engineer, Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Radboud University Medical Center., 08. February, 2018)

Presentation (5MB)
Playback (160MB)
YouTube

Patient-specific musculoskeletal models can provide accurate diagnostic information and have the potential to improve the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, by helping surgeons formulate optimal pre-operative planning for each patient. In this webcast, we present an award-winning patient-specific musculoskeletal model. It is capable of estimating muscle, ligament, joint contact forces and knee kinematics simultaneously. We show how it is used to investigate component size and alignment problems in total knee arthroplasty. In addition, we demonstrate techniques to accelerate the estimation of the joint contact forces using artificial neural networks, and how to embed an efficient elastic foundation contact model for the analysis of patellofemoral contact pressure in a model of trochlear dysplasia. This research is funded by the ERC under grant agreement no. 323091.

New AnyBody Modeling System: Tour and overview of version 7.1

(Morten Enemark Lund, R&D Engineer, AnyBody Technology, 12. December, 2017)

Presentation (4MB)
Playback (159MB)
YouTube

Join us for the launch of version 7.1 of our musculoskeletal simulation software - the AnyBody Modeling System, and version 2.0 of the AnyBody Managed Model Repository. We will guide you through the exciting new features, which include: • New lower extremity model (TLEM2.1) • New framework for MoCap models (AnyMoCap) • New mandible model • New muscle calibration scheme • Numerous updates to body models and example applications

Outdoor Motion Capture and Musculoskeletal Simulations

(Ananth Gopalakrishnan, PhD, Application Engineer, AnyBody Technology, Angelos Karatsidis, PhD Researcher, Xsens & University of Twente and Monique Paulich, Product Specialist & Researcher, Xsens, 30. November, 2017)

Playback (228MB)
YouTube

To date, musculoskeletal simulation studies require concurrent optical motion capture and force plate data to fully analyze the biomechanics. In this joint AnyBody Technology & Xsens webinar, we present a new workflow for obtaining full force data as well as compute muscle forces, without force plates or optical motion capture. The benefits include shorter setup times, no marker occlusion and the freedom to fully study outdoor activities. This work received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement no. GA-731540 (The An.Dy project, www.andy-project.eu) and under Grant Agreement no. GA-680754 (The MovAiD project, www.movaid.eu).

New AnyBody Modeling System: Tour and overview of version 7.0

(Morten Enemark Lund, AnyBody Technology, 29. June, 2017)

Presentation (7MB)
Playback (130MB)
YouTube

In this webcast, we will give a tour of the brand-new user interface and show the new features. The new version has an entirely new look and feel; flexible window layouts enabling multi-screen support; a tabbed editor and much more. Other new features include: New replay options to freely replay your simulations using a slider; new AnyScript functions; and improvements to the C3D reader for gap filling MoCap trajectories. We encourage new and existing users to join our guided tour of the new user interface of the AnyBody Modeling System.

Computing realistic loads in the lumbar spine by using the AnyBody musculoskeletal model

(Tito Bassani, PhD, Biomedical Engineer, Orthopaedic Institute Galeazzi Milano, 21. June, 2017)

Presentation (7MB)
Playback (114MB)
YouTube

The AnyBody full-body model, available from the AnyBody Managed Model Repository (AMMR), is increasingly used by numerous researchers worldwide. The body model can be advantageoulsy exploited to non-invasively investigate the spinal loads in a wide range of physiological conditions (e.g. training, ergonomics, rehabilitation). This webcast presents the comprehensive validation of the model in predicting the lumbar spine loads at L4L5 level.

Assistive Devices: Simulating Physiological Performance

(Mohammad S. Shourijeh, PhD, R&D Engineer, AnyBody Technology, 30. May, 2017)

Presentation (5MB)
Playback (270MB)
YouTube

In this AnyBody webcast, we will showcase real-world examples where musculoskeletal simulations facilitated the design and evaluation of assistive devices for a number of motion scenarios. We will demonstrate how various physiological performance metrics enable engineers to create devices that achieve multiple design objectives. This work received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement no. GA-731540 (The An.Dy project, www.andy-project.eu) and under Grant Agreement no. GA-680754 (The MovAiD project, www.movaid.eu).

Over-determinate kinematics: The gateway to advanced motion simulation

(Assoc. Prof. Michael Skipper Andersen, PhD, Aalborg University & Prof. John Rasmussen, PhD, Aalborg University, 27. April, 2017)

Presentation (3MB)
Playback (259MB)
YouTube

The ability to resolve the kinematics of a model having many redundant and sometimes conflicting motion requirements is an essential strength of the AnyBody Modeling System. An efficient solver for such “over-determinate” kinematic systems is a significant advantage, as it enables a great range of musculoskeletal simulations ranging from motion capture models to prediction of motion kinematics. Join us as we dive into the theory and applications of such over-determinate kinematic analyses with the very scientists who developed it. Associate Professor Michael Skipper Andersen from Aalborg University will introduce the mathematical foundations and the technique of parameter identification. Professor John Rasmussen will then demonstrate the application of this theory and apply it to different applications.

New AnyBody Modeling System: Tour and overview of version 6.1

(Morten Enemark Lund, AnyBody Technology, 14. March, 2017)

Presentation (4MB)
Playback (138MB)
YouTube

In this webcast, Morten Enemark Lund, AnyBody R&D Engineer, will introduce some of the exciting new features and show examples of how you can use them to create State-of-the-Art musculoskeletal simulations. Many improvements to the AnyScript language have enabled a new framework for MoCap models, which is much easier to use. The improved BVH importer makes it simpler to simulate motion recorded with inertial MoCap systems and enjoy free motion capture outside the confines of your laboratory. Other new features include tools for advanced overdetermined kinematics and more realistic posture prediction as well as many visualization improvements.

Development of a biomechanical model of the wrist joint for patient-specific model guided surgical therapy planning

(Jörg Eschweiler, PhD, Head of the group "Biomechanical Modelling and Simulation", Chair of Medical Engineering at the Helmholtz-Institute Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Germany, 09. February, 2017)

Presentation (6MB)
Playback (312MB)
YouTube

Patient-specific multi body simulation models are potentially valuable tools for surgeons in pre- and intraoperative planning of implant choice and alignment. An enhanced musculoskeletal biomechanical model of the wrist joint is presented. The developed computational model features the two forearm bones radius and ulna, the eight wrist bones, the five metacarpal bones and a soft tissue apparatus. A comprehensive ligamentous apparatus was implemented allowing the investigation of ligament function. It can be easily personalized by patient specific image information. The model was validated by literature information as well as by own experimental passive in vitro motion analysis of eight cadaver specimens. The model enables simulation of individual wrist motion and predicts trends correctly in case of changing kinematics.

Musculoskeletal modeling of Dragonflies

(Sina David, Phd student, German Sport University Cologne, Institute of Biomechanics and Orthopaedics & Dr. Alexander Blanke, University of Hull, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 06. December, 2016)

Presentation (4MB)
Playback (286MB)
YouTube

Bite mechanics of insects are interesting in diverse research fields such as evolution and bionics. As these animals are difficult to investigate experimentally due to their small size, modeling approaches can give useful insights into factors such as joint function and muscle activation patterns. This webcast will show the workflow from bite force measurements and micro CT scans to the model setup.

How to batch process your AnyBody models

(Morten Enemark Lund, AnyBody Technology, 24. November, 2016)

Presentation (2MB)
Playback (231MB)
YouTube

How can you automate your AnyBody simulation for batch processing? How do you integrate the results from AnyBody with other applications? In this webcast, we will introduce you to the AnyBody console application and its macro commands. You will learn how to use the Python programming language to batch process many models and plot the results easily. Finally, you will see a real world example of batch processing a musculoskeletal model on a Mocap dataset with hundreds of patients and thousands of trials collected as part of the LifeLongJoints project funded by the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) under Grant Agreement no. GA-310477 (The LifeLongJoints project, www.lifelongjoints.eu). No experience with the Python programming language is required for attending the webcast.

Modeling Human-Exoskeleton interaction with AnyBody

(Prof. John Rasmussen, PhD, The AnyBody Group, Aalborg University, 03. November, 2016)

Presentation (3MB)
Playback (370MB)
YouTube

Exoskeletons are promising a new technological revolution on the interface of man and machine. The technology offers amazing opportunities and very difficult design problems, because the machine must work on the conditions of a living human. In this webcast, Professor John Rasmussen from Aalborg University will explain how musculoskeletal simulation can be used in the various stages of the design process to enhance safety, reduce weight and minimize power consumption. This work received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement no. GA-680754 (The MovAiD project, www.movaid.eu).

Contact Forces and Kinematics of Total Knee Arthroplasty During Squatting - A Simulation Study

(Jaehun Ro, Central R&D Center, Corentec Co., Ltd, South Korea, 06. October, 2016)

Presentation (1MB)
Playback (55MB)
YouTube

Total knee replacement (TKR) is a well proven surgical procedure and squat motion is a common activity in daily life. TKR contact mechanics and kinematics are important issue in both clinical and mechanical field, however, are not well known. The purpose of this study was to 1) validate the TKR implanted computer musculoskeletal model during squatting and to 2) calculate the contact mechanics in both tibiofemoral and patellofemoral joint. Squat motion was simulated in musculoskeletal simulation software (AnyBody Modeling System, AnyBody Technology, Denmark). Subject-specific bone models used in the simulation were reconstructed from CT images by Mimics (Materialize, Belgium). The TKR components used in this study are PS-type LOSPA Primary Knee System (Corentec, South Korea). Force-dependent kinematics was used in the simulation. In conclusion, total knee arthroplasty implanted musculoskeletal model with 6 degree of freedom knee joint was well constructed and validated by comparison of main results in tibiofemoral and patellofemoral contact forces during squatting.

Musculoskeletal modelling from scratch: Concepts made easy

(Ananth Gopalakrishnan, PhD, AnyBody Technology, 15. September, 2016)

Presentation (3MB)
Playback (265MB)
YouTube

Seemingly unrelated musculoskeletal modelling solutions often share a set of core concepts, which become evident through gradual experience. Our presenter for this webcast has also journeyed along this rocky learning curve. Ananth will show you a live demo of how a simple, one-segment model is built from scratch, while explaining the underlying modeling concepts. He will go on to show you how a complex human model can be made to interact with this segment, using the same basic concepts, resulting in simulations of cranking motions. It will conclude with how these concepts can be extended to simulate motion in different environments. New users of the AnyBody Modeling System, would find this webcast useful for getting started.

WearRA Webinar Series - Modeling and Simulation for Wearable Robots

(Mohammad S. Shourijeh and Moonki Jung, AnyBody Technology, 20. July, 2016)

Presentation (3MB)
Playback (361MB)
YouTube

Exoskeletons hold an obvious potential to assist and enhance human abilities in many ways. What is not as apparent is how to design optimal human-exoskeleton interaction. How can we improve exoskeleton design to capitalize on human anatomy and ability? Synergistic human-robot interactions can be explored in AnyBody Modeling System™, which can revolutionize the approach to human-centered design. This webinar examines the use of the AnyBody Modeling System™ for in-silico design and evaluation of wearables robots. This work received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement no. GA-680754 (The MovAiD project, www.movaid.eu).

How does human gait respond to muscle impairment in TKA patients?

(Marzieh M. Ardestani, PhD, Post-doctoral research fellow, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL,USA, 09. June, 2016)

Presentation (3MB)
Playback (137MB)
YouTube

Post-surgical muscle weakness is prevalent among patients who undergo total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We conducted a probabilistic multi-body dynamics (MBD) to determine whether and to what extent habitual gait patterns of TKA patients may accommodate strength deficits in lower extremity muscles. We analyzed muscular and articular compensations in response to various muscle impairments, and the minimum muscle strength requirements needed to preserve TKA gait patterns in its habitual status. Muscle weakness was simulated by reducing the strength parameter of muscle models in MBD analysis. Using impaired models, muscle and joint forces were calculated and compared versus those from baseline gait i.e. TKA habitual gait before simulating muscle weakness. Comparisons were conducted using a relatively new statistical approach for the evaluation of gait waveforms, i.e. Spatial Parameter Mapping (SPM). Principal component analysis was then conducted on the MBD results to quantify the sensitivity of every joint force component to individual muscle impairment. The results of this study contain clinically important, although preliminary, suggestions. Our findings suggested that: (1) hip flexor and ankle plantar flexor muscles compensated for hip extensor weakness; (2) hip extensor, hip adductor and ankle plantar flexor muscles compensated for hip flexor weakness; (3) hip and knee flexor muscles responded to hip abductor weakness; (4) knee flexor and hip abductor balanced hip adductor impairment; and (5) knee extensor and knee flexor weakness were compensated by hip extensor and hip flexor muscles. Future clinical studies are required to validate the results of this computational study.

Investigation of muscle activation during active seating

(Killian Wagner Biomech. Lab/RCBE, OTH Regensburg, Germany, 12. May, 2016)

Presentation (5MB)
Playback (151MB)
YouTube

Continuous seating leads to prolonged static muscle and tissue loading that may cause back pain. In this work, experimental input-data is used to examine spine-muscle activation during performing defined movements on a dynamic office chair. The OTH (Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule) Regensburg collaborates with AnyBody Technology as an AnyBody Knowledge Center. It is one of the largest technical universities of applied sciences in Germany. The "Regensburg Center of Biomedical Engineering" (RCBE) is located at the OTH and pools the biomedical research activities in the region in an inter-faculty and inter-university research institute. The Laboratory for Biomechanics is part of the RCBE and focuses on basic and applied research in musculoskeletal biomechanics. With a combination of numerical and experimental methods applied and basic research in orthopedic and ergonomic related topics is conducted..The three methodical pillars of the labs work are: Muskuloskeletal simulations, Finite Element Simulations and experimental investigations on implants and biomaterials. Special emphasis is laid on combined workflows incorporating clinical gait analyses, medical image analysis, musculoskeletal simulation and finite element simulations. The RCBE welcomes visits from established researchers and Ph.D. students if fast progress on the modeling task can be achieved.

Knee contact force estimation using force-reaction elements

(Seungbum Koo, Associate Professor, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea, 03. May, 2016)

Presentation (5MB)
Playback (103MB)
YouTube

THE WINNER IN THE 2015 SIXTH GRAND CHALLENGE COMPETITION TO PREDICT IN VIVO KNEE LOADS. There can be many different ways to predict in vivo knee contact force. In our study multiple reaction elements were placed on the contact surface of a joint and used the inverse-dynamics-based optimization in AnyBody Modeling System to calculate the distribution of intra-articular contact forces for the Sixth Grand Challenge Competition to Predict in vivo Knee Loads. Previously, we used the same principle to predict ground reaction force including shear force during walking. In the knee the joint constraint and marker placements on the model seemed very important to predict accurate knee kinematics and the resulting knee contact force. A knee contact model was developed to include 32 reaction elements on the surface of a tibial insert of a total knee replacement, which was embedded in the AnyBody MOCAP model. A knee contact model with a hinge joint and normal alignment could predict knee contact forces with root mean square errors (RMSEs) of 165N and 288N for the medial and lateral portions of the knee, respectively, and coefficients of determination (R^2) of 0.70 and 0.63. When the hinge joint was replaced with ball-socket joint and locations of leg markers were adjusted to account for the valgus lower-limb alignment of the subject, RMSE values improved to 144N and 179 N, and R^2 values improved to 0.77 and 0.37, respectively.

Personalize your musculoskeletal models based on medical image data

(Pavel Galibarov, AnyBody Technology, 20. April, 2016)

Presentation (3MB)
Playback (330MB)
Demo files (21MB)
YouTube

Musculoskeletal modeling provides a great value for a product design process by quantifying otherwise immeasurable human response, such as muscle, joint reaction forces, internal bone motion, etc., to physical activity, and environment, i.e. a product. This output can be used to improve a product targeting human performance or function by minimizing internal body load, fatigue, energy expenditure, and so on. However, typically such responses will be specific to a human subjected to a virtual experimentation process, e.g. a musculoskeletal model. And, thus, achieving a higher level of subject-specific precision will require incorporation of the subject-specificity into the virtual experimentation process. In this webcast AnyBody Technology will demonstrate and explain current procedures used to personalize a musculoskeletal model. Several different scenarios of model individualization will be covered such as: a) using a single bone geometry from a CT scan, b) using a partial bone, and c) using a combination of motion capture data and a geometry from a full-bone CT scan.

Simulating man-machine symbiosis: Improved design solutions, from ergonomics to assistive technology

(Ananth Gopalakrishnan, AnyBody Technology, 15. March, 2016)

Presentation (3MB)
Playback (284MB)
Demo files (2MB)
YouTube

Prototypes of equipment and environments involving human interaction can undergo lengthy scrutiny to ensure that the final product guarantees the safe loading of bones and soft tissues in the musculoskeletal system. Perceiving the human and the environment as a single man-machine system is beneficial in understanding how, they influence one another: What are the conceptual challenges of simulating such systems? How can you simulate human-environment interaction in AnyBody? This webcast will give an overview of the concepts underlying AnyBody’s inverse dynamic simulations. A subsequent demo will show how features such as closed loop kinematics, contact/ground reaction force prediction, interactive widgets etc. can all come together to build quick, robust solutions to design problems in ergonomics and assistive devices. (please note that we had a technical issue with the recording of this webcast which resulted in degraded audio quality for parts of the recording).

Validation of a new AnyBody mandible model

(Associate professor Michael Skipper Andersen, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Aalborg University, 04. February, 2016)

Presentation (4MB)
Playback (123MB)
YouTube

In this webcast, we will present our recently developed detailed musculoskeletal model of the mandible. To model the temporomandibular joint, we investigated two different approaches: 1) a previously published point-on-plane model and 2) a Force-dependent Kinematics (FDK) model that take into account the detailed joint surface and the properties of the surrounding ligaments. To evaluate the accuracy of the models, a custom brace was manufactured to enable measurements of the detailed joint kinematics to validate the model predictions.

Loading an aircraft: Validation of the lumbar spine model and analysis of lumbar loads in airport baggage handlers

(Henrik Koblauch, Ph.D, Assistant Professor, School of Physiotherapy UCC, 10. November, 2015)

Presentation (3MB)
Playback (68MB)
YouTube

In the webcast, Henrik Koblauch will present his work to use musculoskeletal models to evaluate loading of the lower back in airport baggage handlers. The presentation includes the efforts to validate the lumbar spine model for estimating lumbar loading in lifting tasks. The second part of the webcast will present the musculoskeletal modeling of baggage handlers working inside the luggage compartment of a Boeing 737-800.

Load Analysis of the hip joint for occupational activities

(Dipl.-Ing. Patrick Varady, Institute of Biomechanics, Trauma Center Murnau and Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 27. October, 2015)

Presentation (6MB)
Playback (58MB)
YouTube

Osteoarthritis of the hip joint (HOA) is a severe disease of the musculoskeletal system and is accompanied by detrimental effects to patients' health and economic consequences. Multiple factors affect the pathogenesis of HOA, including mechanical loading of the hip joint. Literature concerning the epidemiology of HOA indicates an association between occupational activities and the disease's etiology. The aim of this study is to analyse the load of the hip joint for different occupational tasks. It is hypothesised that risk associated working tasks will result in a higher load of the hip joint when compared to activities of daily living.

Ground reaction force prediction with the AnyBody Modeling System

(Assoc. Prof. Michael Skipper Andersen and Sebastian Skals, M.Sc., Aalborg University, 06. October, 2015)

Presentation (5MB)
Playback (85MB)
YouTube

This webcast will show how to implement ground reaction force prediction for models in the AnyBody Modeling System. The webcast will have both hands-on examples as well as results from validating the approach against measured ground reaction forces in different sports related activities. This work received funding from the Sapere Aude program of the Danish Council for Independent Research under grant no. DFF-4184-00018 to M. S. Andersen and from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) under the LifeLongJoints Project, Grant Agreement no. GA-310477 to M. Jung and M. Damsgaard (The LifeLongJoints project, www.lifelongjoints.eu).

TLEMsafe: Personalization of musculoskeletal models and prediction of functional outcome

(Vincenzo Carbone, University of Twente, 03. September, 2015)

Presentation (8MB)
Playback (60MB)
YouTube

Conducted from 2010 to 2014, TLEMsafe was a project funded by the European Union, with the aim of creating a patient-specific surgical navigation system for pre-operative planning and execution of complex musculoskeletal surgery. Having reached a successful conclusion, we hope that all these important results reached from TLEMsafe project could help the scientific community to continue developing and adopting personalized musculoskeletal models on large scale. This work received funding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) under Grant Agreement no. GA-247860 (The TLEMsafe project, www.tlemsafe.eu).

Automate your AnyBody simulations, or how to run AnyBody from python

(Morten Enemark Lund, AnyBody Technology, 30. June, 2015)

Presentation (1Mb)
Playback (157Mb)
Python slides from the talk
Tutorial mention in the talk
YouTube

The webcast will show how you can automate your AnyBody simulations to do batch processing or run parameter studies. Firstly, we will introduce the AnyBodyConsole application and it's macro commands. Secondly, we will show how to use the AnyBody from python to run many simulations in parallel and to extract and plot the results. No experience with the Python programming language is required for attending the webcast.

Modeling of population ergonomics with AnyBody

(Prof. John Rasmussen, Aalborg University, 25. June, 2015)

Presentation (4Mb)
Playback (73Mb)
YouTube

Many industrial products such as automobiles, furniture, assistive devices and sports equipment are produced industrially not for a single individual but for a cross section of the population. Furthermore, some of these products contain adjustment capabilities to accommodate people of different sizes. This webcast present a new modeling method in AnyBody that allow for investigation of the ergonomics of a population in conjunction with a product or adjustable environment. We show how thousands of body models can be generated within the variability of a population, placed in conjunction with the product and evaluated for kinematics-based comfort. The method draws on new kinematic features in version 6.1 of the AnyBody Modeling System, on the system’s general ability to handle soft constraints and closed kinematic chains, and finally on a connection with Python.

Do we move optimally? - Prediction of human movement by musculoskeletal models

(Dr. Saeed Farahani, 04. February, 2015)

Presentation (4Mb)
Playback (140Mb)
YouTube

In this webcast Saeed Farahani will present the study "Do we move optimally? - Prediction of human movement by musculoskeletal models" . This study was part of his Ph.D. thesis "Human posture and movement prediction based on musculoskeletal modeling" at Aalborg University under supervision of Professor John Rasmussen.

A Musculoskeletal Shoulder Model using Force-Dependent Kinematics to evaluate Non-Conforming Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

(Dr. Lauranne Sins, ETS Montreal, 04. December, 2014)

Presentation (12Mb)
Playback (107Mb)
YouTube

In this webcast, Lauranne Sins from ETS Montreal will present a shoulder model based on force dependent kinematics in the AnyBody Modeling System. In the past years, musculoskeletal models have focused mostly on hip and knee neglecting the upper extremities. Sins et al. introduced joint translations into a non-conforming prosthetic shoulder model to simulate physiological joint translations between humeral head and glenoid components and also to replicate in-vivo joint reactions forces. Such a model can be used in a clinical environment to analyze real patients and in implant development for a better prosthetic design.

Evaluation of predicted knee kinematics and ligament length changes by force-dependent kinematics in vitro

(Valentine Vanheule, K.U. Leuven, 13. November, 2014)

Presentation (2Mb)
Playback (82Mb)
YouTube

Recent research has focused on making numerical knee models subject-specific. However, to apply these models in a clinical setting, validation is essential. The aim of this study is to validate a subject-specific knee model by comparing experimental cadaver knee kinematics and ligament lengths to the model output obtained through a novel analysis method called force-dependent kinematics.

Musculoskeletal Simulation in an Automotive Environment

(Senior Consultant Amir Al-Munajjed, PhD, AnyBody Technology, 23. October, 2014)

Presentation (4Mb)
Playback (61Mb)
YouTube

In this webcast Amir Al-Munajjed, senior consultant at AnyBody Technology, will give an overview of how musculoskeletal models can be used to answer ergonomic questions during package design, seat development or similar automotive developments.

Biomechanical Outcome of Total Hip Replacements using a Patient-Specific Musculoskeletal Model

(Tim Weber, OTH Regensburg, 30. September, 2014)

Presentation (4Mb)
Playback (68Mb)
YouTube

In this Webcast Tim Weber from the Laboratory for Biomechanics at the OTH Regensburg will present a study that compares different surgical procedures and the biomechanical outcome after total hip replacements. We investigated the biomechanics of walking after THR using patient-specific musculoskeletal models of human gait. These models were facilitated to compare two surgical techniques for THR. We retrieved patient-specific musculoskeletal model using the AnyGait Model (AnyBodyModelingSystem, AMMRV 1.6). This study was conducted in cooperation of the Laboratory of Biomechanics, OTH Regensburg (Tim Weber, Sebastian Dendorfer), the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Medical Center Regensburg (Tobias Renkawitz, Tim Weber, and Joachim Grifka), the University of Groningen (Bart Verkerke, Sjoerd Bulstra), The Netherlands and the University of Twente, the Netherlands (Bart Verkerke).

Patient-specific Musculoskeletal Modelling of Total Knee Arthroplasty using Force-dependent Kinematics

(Michael Skipper Andersen, Aalborg University, 09. September, 2014)

Presentation (2Mb)
Playback (85Mb)
YouTube

In this webcast Michael Skipper Andersen will present a patient specific model to predict knee contact forces for Total Knee Arthroplasty. The bone geometry of tibia, femur and patella was based on CT images to scale muscle attachments nodes nonlinearly. An optimisation procedure in AnyBody linearly scaled the remaining model segments based on surface marker locations. A detailed tibiofemoral and patellofemoral joint model, including contact and ligaments, allowed estimation of both muscle, ligament and contact forces, and knee joint kinematics using Force-dependent Kinematics (FDK). By employing quasi-static force-equilibrium, FDK extends inverse dynamics to allow computation of small movements stabilized by soft tissue within joints. In this study, FDK was employed to compute all tibiofemoral and patellofemoral movements except knee flexion/extension, which was prescribed. The muscle strengths were systematically reduced for both knee flexors and extensors as reported for total knee arthroplasty patients, and a strong dependence of the knee contact forces on this strength was observed. The predicted tibio-femoral contact forces showed a very good correlation to the in-vivo measured data. Medial and lateral forced matched for standard gait and a measured right turn.

Musculoskeletal forces in the human body during Tokyo’s daily life of commuting

(Julien Groud, Application Engineer, Terrabyte, Japan, 13. May, 2014)

Presentation (2Mb)
Playback (52Mb)
YouTube

The human body is exposed to various forces during daily activities of commuting. Julien Groud from Terrabyte will give a presentation about musculoskeletal loads in the human body during typical forms of daily commuting through Tokyo.

Spine Parameter: The influence of vertebral geometrical parameters on lumbar spine loading

(M.Sc. Michael Putzer, Prof. Sebastian Dendorfer, Laboratory for Biomechanics, Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg, Germany, 08. April, 2014)

Presentation (3Mb)
Playback (220Mb)
YouTube

Musculoskeletal simulations are frequently used to determine the internal loads of the human body. However, the accuracy of the anatomical dataset and actually often the lack of data lead to some uncertainty of the underlying models. In this study we investigated the influence of vertebral geometrical parameter on lumbar spine loads. Therefore, an lumbar spine model has been derived and the effect of altered geometrical parameters has been analyzed.

Exoskeletons: Reducing joint and muscle loads while performing difficult tasks

(Senior Consultant Amir Al-Munajjed, PhD, AnyBody Technology, 25. February, 2014)

Presentation (2Mb)
Playback (49Mb)
YouTube

Exoskeletons can be used in various industrial, medical and military applications to assist and improve the human body's function. In this webinar, we will illustrate how the AnyBody Modeling System can be used in the development process of exoskeletons and give a summary of selected user cases: Optimization of exoskeleton kinematics, Simulation of human body-exoskeleton interface forces, Compute reduction of joint and muscle loads, while performing difficult tasks

Estimating edge-loading risk in patients with metal-on-metal hip resurfacing

(Stephen Mellon, University of Oxford, and Michael Skipper Andersen, Aalborg University, 12. November, 2013)

Presentation (3Mb)
Playback (30Mb)
YouTube

This webcast details the method employed to investigate the contribution of patient-specific motion patterns to edge-loading risk in patients with metal-on-metal hip resurfacing arthroplasty. Fifteen subjects were recruited for motion analysis. The musculoskeletal model used a three-stage procedure. First, the patient specific joint kinematics were estimated based on a stick-figure model constructed from the standing reference frame and the estimated hip joint centres The Twente lower extremity model (TLEM) was nonlinearly morphed using radial basis functions to match the segment lengths and joint parameters of the stick-figure model. Inverse dynamic analysis was performed for the morphed TLEM model with the measured ground reaction forces as external loads and polynomial muscle recruitment criterion of power 3 to estimate muscle and joint contact forces. The distance of the hip contact force from the edge of the acetabular component during gait and sit-to-stand was used to estimate the edge-loading risk.

The new release of the AnyBody Modeling System. Version 6.0

(Michael Damsgaard, 15. July, 2013)

Presentation (1Mb)
Playback (13Mb)
YouTube

A short introduction to the most important new features in the AnyBody Modeling System (AMS), v.6.0, and the included version 1.6 of the AnyBody Managed Model Respository (AMMR).

TLEMsafe: An integrated system to improve predictability of functional recovery of patients requiring musculoskeletal surgery

(Prof. dr. Nico Verdonschot, 05. March, 2013)

Presentation (5Mb)
Playback (55Mb)

Started in 2010 TLEMsafe aims to create a patient-specific surgical navigation system, based on innovative ICT tools, for training, pre-operative planning and execution of complex musculo-skeletal surgery. The project utilizes and further develops the Twente Lower Extremity Model (TLEM), a recently developed musculo-skeletal computer model, to represent the patient-specific situation. The next step is to allow the surgeon to virtually operate on the patient-specific model, after which the model can predict the functional effect of this intervention. In this way, the surgeon can test various surgical scenarios before actually operating. Once the optimal surgical plan is selected, the plan is fed into a computer assisted navigation system that allows the surgeon to reproduce the selected surgical plan for his patient during the actual surgery.

Orthopedic AnyBody Applications for the Spine

(Tony Petrella, 07. November, 2012)

Presentation (3Mb)
Playback (28Mb)
YouTube

Many AnyBody users are using musculoskeletal modeling to gain insight and solve spine related problems. This webinar will give you an overview of this body of work and discuss some of the results.

The new SolidWorks2AnyBody translator add-in

(Moonki Jung, 17. October, 2012)

Presentation (4Mb)
Playback (47Mb)
YouTube

This webcast demonstrates SolidWorks2AnyBody. A new powerful SolidWorks add-in application to translate your CAD models into The AnyBody Modeling System.

The new Glasgow-Maastricht AnyBody foot model

(Sylvain Carbes, 20. September, 2012)

Presentation (2Mb)
Playback (36Mb)
YouTube

This webcast presents a detailed AnyBody musculoskeletal foot model which includes all bones and joints of a real foot. Developed in collaboration with Glasgow Caledonian University and University Hospital Maastricht and referred to as the "Glasgow-Maastricht foot model" this model can be driven by motion capture data and uses combined force plate/pressure plate for accurate loading of the different joints. Built-in scaling allows the user to reproduce principal foot deformities such as flat foot and hallux valgus. The high detail level of the model and a built-in scaling protocol allows the user to investigate a wide range of parameters like joints motion and load, muscles activation, both in healthy and pathologic feet.

Orthopedic AnyBody Applications for the Hip

(Tony Petrella, 05. September, 2012)

Presentation (3Mb)
Playback (49Mb)

Many AnyBody users are using musculoskeletal modeling to gain insight and solve hip and THR related problems. This webinar will give you an overview of this body of work and discuss some of the results.

The New Release of the AnyBody Modeling System, version 5.2

(Amir A. Al-Munajjed, 28. June, 2012)

Presentation (4Mb)
Playback (51Mb)
YouTube

This webcast will highlight the new features of the latest AnyBody release utilizing model examples from product design optimization, ergonomic analysis, creating physiological finite element loads, and pre-op orthopedic surgery planning.

AnyGait: A powerful gait lab application to process motion capture trials

(Amir A. Al-Munajjed, 31. May, 2012)

Presentation (3Mb)
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This webinar will walk you through AnyGait, a gait analysis application targeting users who have a need for repetitive processing of trial data. Running inside the AnyBody Modeling System AnyGait uses motion capture including ground reaction forces as input in the form of C3D files. AnyGait is pre-setup with a specific marker protocol, however, a number of standard setups are available for use with different MoCap systems such as Vicon, Qualysis, and SIMI, and the system can easily be customized to other protocols. AnyGait exports the most important results in a condensed and easy-to-read form. Currently, this standard output contains joint angles of ankle, knee, and hip, joint reaction forces of ankle, knee, and hip, and muscle activity of major muscle branches, but it is customizable to meet the needs and requirements of a given laboratory, application, and patient group.

Modeling and analysis of non-conforming joints in AnyBody II

(John Rasmussen, 29. September, 2011)

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In this webcast we continue the September 8 presentation of non-conforming joint modeling. This presentation primarily takes the form of a bottom-up demo session of how the new facilities are actually used in a modeling process. We use simple examples to demonstrate the definition of contact conditions and force-dependent kinematics analyses.

Modeling and analysis of non-conforming joints in AnyBody I

(John Rasmussen, 8. September, 2011)

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In this webcast we take a top-down look at what can be accomplished with the new capabilities for modeling and analysis of non-conforming joints. One of the inventors of the AnyBody Modeling System, Prof. John Rasmussen, will demonstrate the new features using the example of a knee prosthesis. We will be looking into force-dependent kinematics, which allows the system to determine local deformations in joints caused by the combination of external forces, muscle forces and reactions from ligaments and other passive structures. We also review the new surface contact measures in the AnyBody Modeling System. Together, these facilities provide exciting new possibilities for analysis of the mechanics of complex joints, such as knees, shoulders, mandibular joints and spinal disks. Notice there will be a follow-up event to this webcast on Sep. 29.

Preview of The AnyBody Modeling System version 5.1

(Michael Damsgaard, 22. June, 2011)

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In this presentation we will be taking a look at the upcoming AnyBody Modeling System version 5.1 which is planned for release in August. One of the key new features is for analysis of non-conforming joints using the Force-Dependent Kinematics solver in combination with a surface contact model. But we also take a look at other new features of the AMS and the work we are doing on the modeling side.

Analyzing non-conforming anatomical and prosthetic joints in the AnyBody Modeling System

(Michael Skipper Andersen, 5. April, 2011)

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Most musculoskeletal models presume idealized joints, such as a revolute joint for the knee and a spherical joint for the hips. However, several anatomical and prosthetic joints are non-conforming to such an extent that the forces significantly influence the detailed joint kinematics and the joint-s internal force equilibrium. This is the case for joints such as spinal disks, knees and many shoulders. For instance, in the knee, the internal motions are governed by a complex interaction between the muscle actions, cartilage contact mechanics, ligament forces and soft tissue deformations. Capturing all these effects in a realistic model using only kinematic constraints is very difficult, if not impossible. In this webcast, we demonstrate a novel method called Force-dependent Kinematics (FDK) implemented in the AnyBody Modeling System version 5.0. This method allows motions in user-defined degree-of-freedom to be resolved through force equilibrium, rather than by kinematic constraints, while still enabling computation of the muscle and reaction forces. We take a hands-on approach and perform a live demonstration of how to use FDK for model development.

Patient-specific morphing of musculoskeletal models

(John Rasmussen, 1. March, 2011)

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In this webcast, John Rasmussen demonstrates the implementation of this technology into the AnyBody Modeling System and we look at the opportunities the technology opens for patient-specific surgical planning and implant design.

Streamlining gait analysis with the AnyBody Modeling System v.5

(Soeren Toerholm, 26. January, 2011)

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This webcast demonstrates a gait analysis workflow including definition of marker protocol, import of motion data, optimized individualization of the model, and musculoskeletal analysis in the new AnyBody Modeling System version 5. A few sample results of the analysis will wrap up the live demo. In addition, the full scope of results available from musculoskeletal analysis is described using an overview of the underlying state-of-the art anatomical model and the experimental validation supporting it.

A lumbar spine model with facets joints and a dynamic stabilization device

(Sebastian Dendorfer, 21. December, 2010)

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This presentation will bring an insight to recently added features and methods available in Anybody Modelling System using a lumbar spine example. First, we will shown a computational prediction of spine curvature and show the effect of the muscles on human posture. Secondly, this approach will be employed to highlight the effect of different designs of spinal fixation devices. Moreover, an overview of how to apply this modelling strategy in conjunction with two different formulations of the facet joints will be given.

Pressure ulcer research from seated posture to buttock tissue strain

(Christian Gammelgaard Olesen, 1. December, 2010)

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Pressure ulcers are a frequent complication to spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. It is well acknowledged that sustained mechanical loading of the soft tissues causes pressure ulcers. When sitting on a chair, support forces are acting between the buttocks and the chair. Posture changes cause changes in these forces and thereby to the loads transferred through the soft tissue and into the bony prominences. The soft tissue is strained by the loading, which causes ulceration and, when the load is sustained, a pressure ulcer. This webcast will demonstrate how an AnyBody model can predict the influence of posture on the support forces and consequently contribute to prevention of pressure ulcers.

Modeling techniques in AnyBody

(John Rasmussen, 28. October, 2010)

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Nothing describes software better than watching it being used. In this webcast, one of the inventors of the AnyBody Modeling System, Prof. John Rasmussen, demonstrates the interactive modeling techniques on the system by live development of a model. The webcast is a great introduction for new or prospective users, and even if you are an experienced AnyBuddy, chances are that you will see a useful trick or two that you did not know about.

Functional outcome analyses of navigated minimally invasive total hip endoprosthesis using musculoskeletal modeling

(Tim Weber, 19. October, 2010)

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The purpose of the prospective part of this study was to investigate a novel approach in order to evaluate the functional outcome of minimally invasive navigated hip surgery by combining clinical gait analysis with musculoskeletal modeling and clinical outcome scores. The retrospective part draws its focus on the accuracy of medical imaging (Ct vs. XRay). The aim of this part was to examine the potential of x-ray imaging for biomechanical operational planning of total hip replacement by means of musculoskeletal modeling.

Musculoskeletal Loads within the Rats Hind Limb

(Tim Wehner, 21. September, 2010)

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The rat is of increasing importance for experimental studies on fracture healing. The healing outcome of long bone fractures is strongly influenced by mechanical factors, such as the interfragmentary movement. This movement depends on the stability of the fracture fixation and the musculoskeletal loads. The fixation stability can be easily determined through in vitro tests, however little is known about the loads in rats. This webcast will present the development of an inverse-dynamic model of the rats hindlimb using AnyBody to be able to estimate the internal loads inside the rats femur during gait.

New features in version 4.2 of the AnyBody Modeling System

(Soeren Toerholm, 2. June, 2010)

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The AnyBody Modeling System version 4.2 and the associated version 1.2 of the model repository have just been released. They contain important and long-awaited improvements of capabilities and models. This presentation introduces the most important updated features, and a few of the features of special interest are demonstrated, namely: New functionality to view and work with C3D files for motion analysis. New facilities for viewing the model. Easier editing and setting of model parameters. How to add weights on soft kinematic constraints to handle occluded markers from motion capture data. How to model pathological co-contraction of muscles by adding auxiliary constraints in the muscle recruitment.

Osteoarthritic knee kinematics and kinetics

(Peter R. Worsley, 18. May, 2010)

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It has long been established that individuals who suffer from osteoarthritis present with altered kinematics and kinetics during gait. Inverse dynamic analysis through AnyBody gives the opportunity to estimate the magnitude of changes that occur in the movement patterns of patients suffering from osteoarthritis during activities of daily living. This webcast will detail the process of converting motion capture to MS models for the healthy and osteoarthritis patients, and ways in which the data can be verified and compared to that of healthy individuals.

Workplace Ergonomics - Stilt Walking

(John Z. Wu, 7. April, 2010)

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Stilts are commonly used at construction sites to raise the workers to a higher level above ground to increase the efficiency for many tasks. Some epidemiological studies indicate that the use of stilts may place workers at increased risk for knee injuries or may increase the likelihood of trips and falls. However, no biomechanical analysis has been performed to examine the effects of the stilts walking on the musculoskeletal loading. The study presented in this webcast hypothesizes that the use of stilts in walking will increase the musculoskeletal loadings in the lower limbs. This is investigated in the AnyBody Modeling System.

Physiological responses to bicycle design

(Ernst Albin Hansen, 25. March, 2010)

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An expert on bicycle biomechanics presents his recent investigation where AnyBody was used to explain remarkable experimental findings that the Biopace chain wheel significantly reduces the blood lactate concentration. Bicycle design is an obvious area for biomechanical simulation and the chain wheel shape is just one of many possible design parameters that can be investigated.

AnyGait: Getting quickly from mocap to individualized musculoskeletal analysis

(John Rasmussen, 15. December, 2009)

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This event will follow up on the previous webcast on motion capture data in the AnyBody Modeling System by demonstrating the use of two novel models that make import of motion data from a typical gait lab and individualization of the model to the test subject in question a matter of a few minutes.

New in Version 4.1 - Easy use of Motion Capture Data

(John Rasmussen, 3. December, 2009)

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Version 4.1 of the AnyBody Modeling System contains ground-breaking new technology for handling redundant kinematic constraints. This simplifies the driving of models by motion capture data significantly and improves accuracy. This webcast demonstrates how C3D data is imported and attached to the model and how we can take advantage of their richness to identify unknown parameters in the model.

A Multi-segment Musculoskeletal Foot Model for Clinical Gait Analysis

(Prabhav Saraswat, 28. October, 2009)

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Several full body musculoskeletal models have been developed for research applications and these models may potentially be developed into useful clinical tools to assess gait pathologies. Existing full-body musculoskeletal models treat the foot as a single segment and ignore the motions of the intrinsic joints of the foot. This assumption limits the use of such models in clinical cases with significant foot deformities. Therefore, a three-segment musculoskeletal model of the foot was developed in the AnyBody Modeling System to match the segmentation of a recently developed multi-segment kinematic foot model.

Influence of clavicle midshaft fracture pattern on the superior plate stabilization

(Carsten Englert and Sebastian Dendorfer, 2. July, 2009)

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From the clinical point of view, superior plate fixation of clavicular midshaft fracture is easy in comparison to the anterior plate position on the clavicular. However, in multiple fragment fractures or in cases with a diagonal fracture line in the mid region of the clavicle failures of superior plate stabilization have been reported. Mostly screw pull-outs staring from medial have been observed. That raises the question, if the superior plate position for clavicle midshaft fractures shall only be used for simple (right angle) fracture types. Both clinical as well as biomechanical aspects will be discussed in this talk. The loading conditions on the bone-implant construct are evaluated during activities of daily living using the AnyBody Modeling System. Following this, a CT based Finite Element Model is loaded with a complex load case including all muscle forces acting on the clavicle and the influence of the different fracture types is investigated. The implications on clinical praxis will be discussed.

Features of muscle recruitment algorithms

(John Rasmussen, 25. June, 2009)

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Recruitment in redundant muscle systems is an issue that tends to spark heated discussions between biomechanists. In this webcast we review the fundamental features of different algorithms for muscle recruitment. We look at the different opportunities for defining the optimization problem and show how they lead to qualitatively different solutions to the problem. We also introduce the new muscle recruitment algorithms in the AnyBody Modeling System ver. 4.0 and show how the user can control the problem definition.

Seated Human Model Validation

(Christian Gammelgaard Olesen, 19. May, 2009)

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The seated model available in the AnyBody repository calculates reaction forces between the human body and the chair. The model can be used for various applications, e.g. design of wheelchairs, office chairs, and automotive chairs. To be sure that a model give the right output, it has to be validated. In order to validate the seated AnyBody model an instrumented chair was built and experiments were carried out. The experiments included different seated postures, varying seat and backrest angle, and foot and backrest height. The experimental postures were modeled and the results were compared.

AnyBody Model Library updates

(Soeren Toerholm, 22. April, 2009)

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This webcast gives an overview of the new, updated AnyScript Model Repository, which offers enhanced user friendliness. We will explain the structuring of the models, the available body parts, and the different sample applications. The new model structure which is supported by new AnyScript language features makes it much easier to create and maintain any updated body part and muscle configuration combinations which the user may want to define.

Anthropometrical Scaling of Musculoskeletal Models

(John Rasmussen, 19. March, 2009)

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This webcast presents ongoing work on reliable scaling of models to represent individual subjects or percentiles of the population. The scaling is in terms of body dimensions as well as strength, and new results and features are presented in terms of scaling to bony landmarks and scaling based on motion capture data.

Joint Forces within The Ankle During Level Walking

(Mike Arakilo, 10. December, 2008)

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Total Ankle Replacement (TAR) has been shown to lack the long term reliability of other implants. Many efforts have been made to improve the design. These have included simply exploiting more anatomically shaped prosthesis; however understanding the fundamental mechanics of the joint based upon robust experimental data is perhaps a more promising approach. Current data describing ankle joint forces have been calculated based on questionable assumptions from a very limited number of investigations dating back to the 1970s. The purpose of this study is to develop a more sophisticated computer simulation of the ankle joint to provide more reliable data than currently exist.

Implementation of facet joints in a lumbar spine model

(Mark de Zee, 25. September, 2008)

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This work presents a new methodology for implementation of facet joints in the lumbar spine model developed by De Zee et al. (2007: J Biomech. 40, 1219-1227). It enables the facet joint forces to become part of a redundant system of equilibrium equations for the entire system including the muscles. This redundant system is subsequently solved uniquely thereby making it possible to analyze the effect of whole body movements and loads on facet joint loading for the whole lumbar spine together with its muscles.

TLEM: A new detailed lower extremity model

(Sebastian Dendorfer, PhD, 20. August, 2008)

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The new Twente Lower Extremity Model (TLEM) is based on a recently published morphological dataset on muscle and joint parameters by Martijn Klein-Horsman from the University of Twente, The Netherlands [1]. The AnyBody implementation of the model was initiated by Karin Gorter, a Master Student, also from the University of Twente, during a three month stay at Aalborg University and is now being finished by AnyBody Technology. TLEM consists of 159 muscles and 6 joint degrees of freedom. It has been validated against "state of the art" literature with respect to its biomechanical performance and first applications in gait and cycling deliver very convincing results. The model is currently being used in a project with the European Space Agency (ESA), which aims at analyzing the relationship between mechanical boundary conditions and bone loss during space flights. TLEM itself will be public and we are looking forward to include the new lower extremity model in the next update of the Repository. [1] Horsman, M. D. K.; Koopman, H. F. J. M.; van der Helm, F. C. T.; Prose, L. P. & Veeger, H. E. J. (2007), "Morphological muscle and joint parameters for musculoskeletal modelling of the lower extremity.", Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 22(2), 239--247.

The AnyBody Repository, version 7

(Soeren Toerholm, PhD, 25. June, 2008)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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.

Validation of Hip Joint Force Simulation by Gait Analysis

(Catherine Manders, 29. January, 2008)

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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.

Adjusting the Axle Placement in Wheelchair Users to Minimize Shoulder Joint Forces

(Sarah Sullivan-Dubrowsky, 8. November, 2007)

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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.

Development of a musculoskeletal simulator for swimming

(Dr. Motomu Nakashima, 3. October, 2007)

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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.

A detailed rigid-body cervical spine model based on inverse dynamics

(Dr. Mark de Zee, 18. September, 2007)

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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.

Assessing the Importance of Motion Dynamics for Ergonomic Analysis of Manual Materials Handling Tasks

(David Wagner, 14. August, 2007)

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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.

Online Modeling Demo

(Dr. Soeren Toerholm, 30. May, 2007)

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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.

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)

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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.

Biomechanics and Computer-Aided Ergonomics

(Prof. John Rasmussen, 12. April, 2007)

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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.

Kinematic Analysis of Over-determinate Systems

(Michael Skipper Andersen, 22. February, 2007)

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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.

Scaling strength in human simulation models

(Dr. Kenneth Meijer, 17. January, 2007)

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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.

A generic detailed rigid-body lumbar spine model

(Dr. Mark de Zee, 4. December, 2006)

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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 Seated Human Project

(Dr. John Rasmussen, 20. November, 2006)

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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.

Validation of musculoskeletal models

(Dr. Mark de Zee, 4. October, 2006)

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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.

How to synthesize posture and movement with inverse dynamics

(Dr. John Rasmussen, 25. September, 2006)

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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.

Gait Modeling

(Dr. John Rasmussen, 31. August, 2006)

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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.

Kinematics

(Dr. John Rasmussen, 14. June, 2006)

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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)

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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.

Anthropometric Scaling of Musculoskeletal Models

(Dr. John Rasmussen, 9. May, 2006)

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This webcast explains in detail and with a live demonstration the various options available for body model scaling in AnyBody.

The AnyBody Model Repository

(Dr. Soeren Toerholm Christensen, 4. April, 2006)

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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.

Muscle Modeling

(Dr. John Rasmussen, 6. March, 2006)

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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.)