Journal of Biomechanics (J BIOMECH)

Publications in this journal

• Article: Sex-specific prediction of neck muscle volumes.

  Zheng L, Siegmund G, Ozyigit G, Vasavada A
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  ABSTRACT: Biomechanical analyses of the head and neck system require knowledge of neck muscle forces, which are often estimated from neck muscle volumes. Here we use magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of 17 subjects (6 females, 11 males) to develop a method to predict the volumes of 16 neck muscles by first predicting the total neck muscle volume (TMV) from subject sex and anthropometry, and then predicting individual neck muscle volumes using fixed volume proportions for each neck muscle. We hypothesized that the regression equations for total muscle volume as well as individual muscle volume proportions would be sex specific. We found that females have 59% lower TMV compared to males (females: 510±43cm(3), males: 814±64cm(3); p<0.0001) and that TMV (in cm(3)) was best predicted by a regression equation that included sex (male=0, female=1) and neck circumference (NC, in cm): TMV=269+13.7NC-233Sex (adjusted R(2)=0.868; p<0.01). Individual muscle volume proportions were not sex specific for most neck muscles, although small sex differences existed for three neck muscles (obliqus capitis inferior, longus capitis, and sternocleidomastoid). When predicting individual muscle volumes in subjects not used to develop the model, coefficients of concordance ranged from 0.91 to 0.99. This method of predicting individual neck muscle volumes has the advantage of using only one sex-specific regression equation and one set of sex-specific volume proportions. These data can be used in biomechanical models to estimate muscle forces and tissue loads in the cervical spine.
  Journal of Biomechanics 01/2013;
• Article: Effects of window size on ankle joint stiffness calculation during quiet standing: how the rule changes the result

  A.W. Smith, D.P. Wong
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  ABSTRACT: Measuring ankle joint stiffness (AJS) during quiet standing (QS) using an inverted pendulum model typically involves a single calculation covering the entire period of QS. This study compared AJS using the same 20.0 s set of QS postural sway data but employing seven different calculation windows (0.25 s, 0.5 s, 1.0 s, 2.0 s, 5.0 s, 10.0 s and 20.0 s). AJS was calculated for both anterio-posterior (AP) and medio-lateral (ML) directions of sway. Postural sway data from 19 subjects were used to calculate mean (± SD) and time-normalized AJS over the same 20 s period of QS. Statistical power of this study was 0.99. The AJS had ICCs ranging from 0.47 to 0.85 with coefficient of variations ranging from 11.1% to 31.8%. There were significant differences in AJS between window sizes (P<.0001) for both directions of sway. Specifically, AJS calculated by 1.0 s windows was significantly larger (P<.01) than others, except 0.5 s, while the AJS of the largest two windows (10.0 s and 20.0 s) were significantly smaller (P<.01) than all others in both planes. In conclusion, it is recommended that 1.0 s windows be used to calculate AJS and that stiffness analyzed as a continuous signal offers a more complete picture of how AJS behaves during QS.
  Journal of Biomechanics 12/2012;
• Article: A continuum model for the whole muscle

  Themis Toumanidou, Jérôme Noailly, Dolors Puigjaner, Gerard Fortuny
  Journal of Biomechanics 07/2012; 45:S484.
• Article: DISTRIBUTION OF COMP IN HUMAN HEALTHY AND OSTEOARTHRITIC CARTILAGE

  Sara Firner, Cynthia Fantini-Pagani, Nina Hamann, Frank Zaucke, Gert-Peter Brüggemann, Anja Niehoff
  Journal of Biomechanics 07/2012;
• Article: Thumb motor performance varies with thumb and wrist posture during single-handed mobile phone use

  Matthieu B. Trudeau, Justin G. Young, Devin L. Jindrich, Jack T. Dennerlein
  Journal of Biomechanics 07/2012;
• Article: POROUS GELATIN SCAFFOLD MECHANICAL BEHAVIOUR UNDER CYCLIC LOAD AS A FUNCTION OF WATER CONTENT

  S. Ali Poursamar, Alexander Lehner, Paula Antunes
  Journal of Biomechanics 07/2012; 45:s49.
• Article: Influences of wheelchair settings on propulsion kinematics

  Nicolas Louis, Philippe Gorce
  Journal of Biomechanics 07/2012; 45(S1):365.