A predictive mathematical model of muscle forces for children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Aim The purpose of this study was to determine if our previously developed muscle model could be used to predict forces of the quadriceps femoris and triceps surae muscles of children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP). Method Twenty‐two children with CP (12 males, 10 females; mean age 10y, SD 2y, range 7–13y; Gross Motor Function Classification System levels II and III) participated. A physiologically based mathematical model with four free parameters is presented. Results For individuals with CP, the model predicted well the force profile throughout each contraction and both peak force and force–time integral responses to a wide range of stimulation frequencies (5–100Hz) and different stimulation patterns (constant‐, variable‐, and doublet‐frequency trains) both for nonfatigued and fatigued muscles. Interpretation The significance of this work is the insight the model can provide into the physiology of muscle in CP. Additionally, the model can potentially be applied clinically to design optimal electrical stimulation patterns for interventions to address impairments in strength and function in individuals with CP, such as functional electrical stimulation‐assisted cycling.

Stress analysis of the thoracolumbar junction in the process of backward fall: An experimental study and finite element analysis

“…Only the instantaneous posture and the force value of the force point can be measured using force-measuring platforms. This means that the mechanical mechanism of strength transmission to the spine leading to spinal fracture after a backward fall cannot be accurately determined ( 18 , 19 ).…”