SIMULATION LAB #1: Dynamic Simulation of Jumping

In the study of human movement, experimental measurement is generally limited to the kinematics of the body segments, external reaction forces, and electromyographic (EMG) signals. While these data are essential for characterizing movement, important information is missing. For example, because the body is actuated by more muscles than it has degrees of freedom, we cannot uniquely solve for the muscle forces that gave rise to an observed motion. Yet, knowledge of muscle force is essential for quantifying the stresses placed on bones and also for understanding the functional roles of muscles in normal and pathological movement. Using dynamic models of the musculoskeletal system to simulate movement provides not only a means of estimating muscle forces but also a framework for investigating how the various components of the musculoskeletal system interact to produce movement.