Effects of an obesity-specific marker set on estimated muscle and joint forces in walking

Zachary F. Lerner, Wayne J. Board, Raymond C. Browning

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The accuracy of muscle and joint contact forces (JCF) estimated from dynamic musculoskeletal simulations is dependent upon the experimental kinematic data used as inputs. Subcutaneous adipose tissue makes the measurement of representative kinematics from motion analysis particularly challenging in overweight and obese individuals. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop an obesity-specific kinematic marker set/methodology that accounted for subcutaneous adiposity and to determine the effect of using such a methodology to estimate muscle and JCF in moderately obese adults. METHODS: Experimental kinematic data from both the obesity-specific methodology, which utilized digitized markers and marker clusters, and a modified Helen Hayes marker methodology were used to generate musculoskeletal simulations of walking in obese and nonobese adults. RESULTS: Good agreement was found in lower-extremity kinematics, muscle forces, and hip and knee JCF between the two marker set methodologies in the nonobese participants, demonstrating the ability for the obesity-specific marker set/methodology to replicate lower-extremity kinematics. In the obese group, marker set methodology had a significant effect on lower-extremity kinematics, muscle forces, and hip and knee JCF, with the Helen Hayes marker set methodology yielding larger muscle and first peak hip and knee contact forces compared with the estimates derived when using the obesity-specific marker set/methodology. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the need for biomechanists to account for subcutaneous adiposity during kinematic data collection and proposes a feasible solution that may improve the accuracy of musculoskeletal simulations in overweight and obese people.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1261-1267
Number of pages7
JournalMedicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
Volume46
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • BIOMECHANICS
  • GAIT
  • JOINT CONTACT FORCES
  • KINEMATIC DATA COLLECTION
  • MUSCULOSKELETAL MODELING

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
  • Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

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