A Novel Neuromuscular Head-Neck Model and Its Application on Impact Analysis

Abstract

Objective: Neck muscle activation plays an important role in maintaining posture and preventing trauma injuries of the head-neck system, levels of which are primarily controlled by the neural system. Thus, the present study aims to establish and validate a neuromuscular headneck model as well as to investigate the effects of realistic neural reflex control on head-neck behaviors during impact loading. Methods: The neuromuscular head-neck model was first established based on a musculoskeletal model by including neural reflex control of the vestibular system and proprioceptors. Then, a series of human posture control experiments was implemented and used to validate the model concerning both joint kinematics of the cervical spine and neck muscle activations. Finally, frontal impact experiments of varying loading severities were simulated with the newly established model and compared with an original model to investigate the influences of the implanted neural reflex controllers on head-neck kinematic responses. Results: The simulation results using the present neuromuscular model showed good correlations with in-vivo experimental data while the original model even cannot reach a correct balance status. Furthermore, the vestibular reflex is noted to dominate the muscle activation in less severe impact loadings while both vestibular and proprioceptive controllers have a lot of effect in higher impact loading severity cases. Conclusions: In summary, a novel neuromuscular head-model was established and its application demonstrated the significance of the neural reflex control in predicting in vivo head-neck responses and preventing related injury risk due to impact loading.

Simulation of Spinal Cord Reflexes

“…The knowledge from references [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] with their applications helped us to gain experience with the simulation environment. The knowledge from [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34] made us aware of the neuroscience domain. Recent research [32][33][34] published in IEEE journals shows us that software simulations and system modeling are not only useful but a regular procedure in medical practice and rehabilitation.…”

“…The knowledge from [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34] made us aware of the neuroscience domain. Recent research [32][33][34] published in IEEE journals shows us that software simulations and system modeling are not only useful but a regular procedure in medical practice and rehabilitation. Other publications were consulted as well, but they are not mentioned in the references.…”

‘Falling heads’: investigating reflexive responses to head–neck perturbations

“…Furthermore, our data set could be used to validate and compare existing control strategies. In our model, we only used two stretch-based reflex controllers, however, recently a more sophisticated control approach for a multi-body head–neck model was proposed by Zheng et al [ 82 ] where the vestibular reflex was additionally included. This reflex is modulated by sensing the disturbed head motion (linear acceleration and angular velocity) by the vestibular organs in the inner ear (both the semicircular canals and the otoliths) [ 36 ].…”

“…Please note, that there exist more sophisticated controllers (e.g. [ 82 ] for a MB model) which account also for the vestibular reflex which is modulated due to linear acceleration and angular velocity. Our model modifications and the necessary repositioning to replicate the experimental setup, are described in the following.…”