BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF MOVEMENT IN THE LOWER-EXTREMITY

Within the field of prevention and rehabilitation, a detailed knowledg e of the internal stresses and strains, for example the forces acting on and within joints, muscular force, is desirable or indispensable. T he complex analysis of movements described here is based on a biomecha nical model that takes into account the results of research done by F. Pauwels showing that muscular activity helps reduce the loading of tu bular bones. The principle of functional adaptation provides a reasona ble explanation for the ''muscular redundance'' of the locomotory syst em, and forms the basis for the calculation of internal loads. The res ults of the analysis include muscular and joint forces and the stresse s within femur and tibia. The required anatomical data were for the mo st part obtainable directly from the test subject by magnetic resonanc e imaging. The calculated muscular forces are in good agreement with E MG measurements.