In this study, we had subjects voluntarily generate various forces in a transverse plane just above their ankles. The contributions of their muscles and soft tissues to the support of the total external knee joint moment were determined by analyzing the experimental data using a biomechanical model of the knee. In this model, muscle forces were estimated using the recorded EMGs. To account for subject variability, various muscle parameters were adjusted using a nonlinear least-squares fit of the model’s estimated flexion and extension joint moments to those recorded externally. Using the estimated muscle forces, the contributions from the muscles and other soft tissues to the total joint moment were obtained. The results showed that muscles were primarily used to support flexion and extension loads at the knee, but in so doing, were able to support some part of the varus or valgus loads. However, soft tissue loading was still required. Soft tissues supported up to an average maximum of 83 percent of the external load in pure varus and valgus. Soft tissue loading in pure varus and valgus was less than 100 percent of the external load as the muscles, on average, were able to support 17 percent of the external load. This muscle support was by virtue of muscle cocontraction and/or specific muscle activation.
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August 1996
Technical Papers
A Model of Load Sharing Between Muscles and Soft Tissues at the Human Knee During Static Tasks
D. G. Lloyd,
D. G. Lloyd
Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Northwestern University, and Sensory Motor Performance Program, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, 345 East Superior St., Chicago, IL 60611
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T. S. Buchanan
T. S. Buchanan
Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Northwestern University, and Sensory Motor Performance Program, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, 345 East Superior St., Chicago, IL 60611
Search for other works by this author on:
D. G. Lloyd
Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Northwestern University, and Sensory Motor Performance Program, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, 345 East Superior St., Chicago, IL 60611
T. S. Buchanan
Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Northwestern University, and Sensory Motor Performance Program, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, 345 East Superior St., Chicago, IL 60611
J Biomech Eng. Aug 1996, 118(3): 367-376 (10 pages)
Published Online: August 1, 1996
Article history
Received:
October 27, 1994
Revised:
June 22, 1995
Online:
October 30, 2007
Connected Content
A companion article has been published:
Life Prediction Techniques for Variable Amplitude Multiaxial Fatigue—Part 2: Comparison With Experimental Results
Citation
Lloyd, D. G., and Buchanan, T. S. (August 1, 1996). "A Model of Load Sharing Between Muscles and Soft Tissues at the Human Knee During Static Tasks." ASME. J Biomech Eng. August 1996; 118(3): 367–376. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2796019
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