Biomechanics of the rabbit knee and ankle: Muscle, ligament, and joint contact force predictions

Mathematical models of small animals that predict in vivo forces acting on the lower extremities are critical for studies of musculoskeletal biomechanics and diseases. Rabbits are advantageous in this regard because they remodel their cortical bone similar to humans. Here, we enhance a recent mathem...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of biomechanics Vol. 40; no. 12; pp. 2816 - 2821
Main Authors: Grover, Dustin M., Chen, Andrew A., Hazelwood, Scott J.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2007
Elsevier Limited
Subjects:
Animals
Ankle Joint - physiology
Compressive Strength - physiology
Hindlimb - physiology
Joint contact force
Knee
Knee Joint - physiology
Knee ligament
Ligaments
Ligaments - physiology
Models, Biological
Muscle
Muscle Strength - physiology
Muscle, Skeletal - physiology
Optimization
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Predictive Value of Tests
Rabbit model
Rabbits
Sports injuries
Sports medicine
Rabbit model
Muscle
Joint contact force
Knee ligament
Optimization
ISSN:0021-9290, 1873-2380
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Mathematical models of small animals that predict in vivo forces acting on the lower extremities are critical for studies of musculoskeletal biomechanics and diseases. Rabbits are advantageous in this regard because they remodel their cortical bone similar to humans. Here, we enhance a recent mathematical model of the rabbit knee joint to include the loading behavior of individual muscles, ligaments, and joint contact at the knee and ankle during the stance phase of hopping. Geometric data from the hindlimbs of three adult New Zealand white rabbits, combined with previously reported intersegmental forces and moments, were used as inputs to the model. Muscle, ligament, and joint contact forces were computed using optimization techniques assuming that muscle endurance is maximized and ligament strain energy resists tibial shear force along an inclined plateau. Peak forces developed by the quadriceps and gastrocnemius muscle groups and by compressive knee contact were within the range of theoretical and in vivo predictions. Although a minimal force was carried by the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments, force patterns in the posterior cruciate ligament were consistent with in vivo tibial displacement patterns during hopping in rabbits. Overall, our predictions compare favorably with theoretical estimates and in vivo measurements in rabbits, and enhance previous models by providing individual muscle, ligament, and joint contact information to predict in vivo forces acting on the lower extremities in rabbits.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
content type line 14
ObjectType-Undefined-1
ObjectType-Feature-3
ObjectType-Article-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:0021-9290
1873-2380
DOI:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2007.01.002