The development of multi-degree of freedom hand musculoskeletal model for analyzing muscle activations of hand motion and validation

Abstract

Biomechanics is an academic field that understands the biological system by mechanical principles. There have been progresses in the study of computer modeling and simulation for biomechanics. Especially, musculoskeletal models of lower extremity have been developed for analysis of gait motion. However, there has been little research about the musculoskeletal model of upper limbs for the simulation analysis. No validated model is provided in freely available simulation software and commercial simulation programs. The aim of this study was to develop a hand musculoskeletal model for biomechanical analysis about various and complicated hand motions using AnyBody Modeling System and validate the model. The skeletal hand model was created based on the anatomical data to implement degrees of freedom of hand. The musculoskeletal hand model included the hill-type muscle models which made hand movements. The origin and the insertion attachment points of the muscles were founded using an optimization method to create moment arms of muscles from cadaveric study. The distance between motion capture markers and virtual markers was compared to validate the skeletal model. Muscles were validated through the comparison between the experimentally-measured moment arms of muscles and calculated moment arms of muscles in the musculoskeletal model. The developed hand musculoskeletal model could be used to analyze musculoskeletal diseases in the hand such as carpal tunnel syndrome. This study will help understanding of pathological causes and improving the pathological diagnosis.