Free Essay Example on Biomechanical Models: Past to Present

Introduction

The body produces movement and stability that is required to perform different activities. Biomechanical models, a representation of the physics and physiology of human movement, allow for the extraction of mechanical insight from sketchy movement data and to predict such data in areas where data are not available (Delp, 2020). The paper gives a summary of the biomechanical models that were used up to 1984 and provides the new biomechanical models that were used in the 1990s and 2000s. Further, the paper explores future predictions of the biomechanical models beyond 2020.

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Summary of the Models up to 1984

Biomechanics has a long history that dates back to the days of the first philosophers, such as Aristotle. The first philosophers wanted to find out the causes of motion. Later, other researchers added to this first idea. Leonard DaVinci, known for his work in anatomy and physiology, incorporated mathematics in biomechanics, a concept that is used in biomechanics today. The science of the idea that human beings are biological machines that react to stimuli as machines do was born in the 1500s by scientists who mechanically view the world. The idea has since been used by scientists as they have the notion that they can control and manipulate human beings, just as machines (Editors, 2018)

The early biomechanical models assumed that the body is a series of about one, two, or three links. Most of the models were two-dimensional, based on kinematic information. Their objectives were to study the moments and forces around movement and to determine the type of motion in a given link. Some of the models were then extended to include more links, but none of them predicted the internal loadings of the body. They only provided the basic external concepts of torque and force generated by the link motions, which aided understanding of the human movement. Later in the 1960s, the previous principles were extended by calculating torques and forces around joints and tracking the whole body in a kinematic chain. In the late 1960s, the models advanced to a three-dimensional fashion, to include dynamic data (Kroemer et al., 1988)

In the 1970s, optimization was used to determine a lifting model, an advance on the previous models that only explained the kinematic and static information on human movement. In the late 1970s, the lifting model was further advanced. The advanced model predicted the forces in a weighted leg. In the early 1980s, just before 1984, a type of model that disregarded the notion that the body is a set of links was developed. It was a three-dimensional model that actively analyzed the forces imposed on the human body under working conditions. The net reaction of the internal forces of the body was then analyzed by assuming that the antagonist body muscles were silent; hence only reacted to external stress. It was also analyzed by optimizing through linear programming involving upper and lower limits to determine the reaction of the internal organs. The model was used extensively in the subsequent periods (King 1984).

New Developments in the 1990s

Extensive research needed to be done to determine the best objective function for a given muscle and skeletal system. The biomechanical models in the 1990s were a significant advancement from those of the years up to 1984. The use of computers in making biomechanical models started in the 1990s. The use of kinematic and static information to describe and link motions evolved into the description of the function of the parts of the body that are used in the movement. The lifting model and weighted lifting models were developed to study the specific body parts that resulted in such movements. The models showed the external and internal body parts, unlike the prior models that only showed the external organs (Sermesant, 2003)

The 1990s models were divided into the multi-body models and numerical models. The multi-body models showed the different parts of the body while the numerical models analyzed the motions, forces, and torques involved during the reaction of the body organs. The models hence showed extreme power and versatility, demonstrated by the use of computers. The models presented more sophisticated finite elements of the body parts. A chain of tools such as medical imaging, acquisition of images, and modeling of materials was used to develop the biomechanical models. However, the models faced a challenge in incorporating 3D visuals to show a more detailed design of the organ under consideration (Engel et al., 2011)

New Developments in the 2000s

The 2000s are characterized by the use of highly detailed biomechanical models. The models comprise different parts of the body, the human articulated skeleton, numerous muscle developers, and the simulation of soft human tissues. Reasonably fast performance in soft tissue simulation is achieved by developing an algorithm to improve the activation level of human muscles. The stiffness of the body is additionally controlled by computing both protagonist and antagonist muscle forces. In the late 2000s, facial animation was developed where 3D soft tissues that preserve the volume of muscles are used to actuate hard tissues and deform the surrounding tissues. The moment movement of each muscle has also been directly computed from the simulation of the soft tissues (Engel et al., 2011)

In the 2000s modern biomechanics had advantages over pioneer biomechanics. Modern technology has provided insights and measurements that drive biomechanical modeling which cannot be explained by science. Such insights include a greater understanding of nerve impulses by the use of computer signals that monitor electrical signals passed between cells. Internal microscopic structures of muscles have been revealed through further advances in microbiology and chemistry. The advancements have allowed for special treatment of artificial limbs, organ replacement, and the production of new joints for old bodies. Organs can also be grown using special stem cells sprayed on 3D models (Editors, 2018).

The Future of Biomechanical Models Beyond 2020

The evolution and extensive use of technology form the basis of future biomechanical models. The future biomechanical models, beyond 2020, aim to deliver accurate biomechanical predictions. The experimental input data that is used for musculoskeletal computer models are hence required to be quantified, a process that is not currently undertaken to ensure accurate predictions. The future models also aim to use extensive computer simulation approaches to provide quantitative data on human movement. Computer simulations provide the best alternative to animal experimentation that is currently used in basic sciences, clinical projects, and industrial projects that involve biomechanics (Delp, 2020)

The computational models, upon dissemination and publication, will be of great benefit to a wide range of researchers in the field of biomechanical modeling. The models will improve the accuracy and usefulness of biomechanical modeling. They will additionally provide a reliable market for future musculoskeletal research. The models will demonstrate how parameters that are specific to individuals have to be to ensure accurate prediction of broad ranges of muscle and bone parameters. Further, the researchers will be guided on how to utilize musculoskeletal models in various contexts, such as introductory biology, bioengineering, robotics, and advanced biomechanics. The computer simulation, thus, will contribute significantly to the advancement of biomechanical modeling (Delp, 2020)

Biomechanical modeling has been used since time immemorial. It has seen enormous advancements over the years. The biomechanical models have evolved from the simple first concepts of movements by the early philosophers to the complex models that apply extensive use of technology. However, due to the continuous advancement of technology and technological processes, biomechanical models are deemed to change. Beyond 2020, the models aim to incorporate computer simulation rather than animal experimentation to increase the accuracy and reliability of data from models.

References

Editors, B., 2020. Biomechanics. [online] Biology Dictionary. Available at: <https://biologydictionary.net/biomechanics/> [Accessed 7 September 2020].

Delp, S., 2020. Biomechanical Modeling | Mobilize Center. [online] Mobilize.stanford.edu. Available at: <https://mobilize.stanford.edu/biomechanical-modeling/> [Accessed 7 September 2020].

Engel, K., Herpers, R., and Hartmann, U., 2011. Biomechanical computer models. Theoretical Biomechanics. https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=YOSgDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA93&dq=biomechanical+computer+models&ots=KegRLe8_Up&sig=Qe1m0N_rIft4U2UAooQYnw9KLO8&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=biomechanical%20computer%20models&f=false

King, A.I., 1984. A review of biomechanical models. Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 106(2), pp.97-104. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.1070.754&rep=rep1&type=pdf

Kroemer, K.H., Snook, S.H., Meadows, S.K., and Deutsch, S., 1988. Ergonomic models of anthropometry, human biomechanics, and operator-equipment interfaces. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19890017973

Sermesant, M., Forest, C., Pennec, X., Delingette, H., and Ayache, N., 2003. Deformable biomechanical models: Application to 4D cardiac image analysis. Medical image analysis, 7(4), pp.475-488. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1361841503000689