Predictive simulations identify potential neuromuscular contributors to idiopathic toe walking

Background: Most cases of toe walking in children are idiopathic. We used pathology-specific neuromusculoskeletal predictive simulations to identify potential underlying neural and muscular mechanisms contributing to idiopathic toe walking. Methods: A musculotendon contracture was added to the ankle plantarflexors of a generic musculoskeletal model to represent a pathology-specific contracture model, matching the reduced ankle dorsiflexion range-of-motion in a cohort of children with idiopathic toe walking. This model was employed in a forward dynamic simulation controlled by reflexes and supraspinal drive, governed by a multi-objective cost function to predict gait patterns with the contracture model. We validated the predicted gait using experimental gait data from children with idiopathic toe walking with ankle contracture, by calculating the root mean square errors averaged over all biomechanical variables. Findings:A predictive simulation with the pathology-specific model with contracture approached experimental ITW data (root mean square error = 1.37SD). Gastrocnemius activation was doubled from typical gait simulations, but lacked a peak in early stance as present in electromyography. This synthesised idiopathic toe walking was more costly for all cost function criteria than typical gait simulation. Also, it employed a different neural control strategy, with increased length- and velocity-based reflex gains to the plantarflexors in early stance and swing than typical gait simulations. Interpretation: The simulations provide insights into how a musculotendon contracture combined with altered neural control could contribute to idiopathic toe walking. Insights into these neuromuscular mechanisms could guide future computational and experimental studies to gain improved insight into the cause of idiopathic toe walking.</p

Torsion Tool: An automated tool for personalising femoral and tibial geometries in OpenSim musculoskeletal models

Common practice in musculoskeletal modelling is to use scaled musculoskeletal models based on a healthy adult, but this does not consider subject-specific geometry, such as tibial torsion and femoral neck-shaft and anteversion angles (NSA and AVA). The aims of this study were to (1) develop an automated tool for creating OpenSim models with subject-specific tibial torsion and femoral NSA and AVA, (2) evaluate the femoral component, and (3) release the tool open-source. The Torsion Tool (https://simtk.org/projects/torsiontool) is a MATLAB-based tool that requires an individual's tibial torsion, NSA and AVA estimates as input and rotates corresponding bones and associated muscle points of a generic musculoskeletal model. Performance of the Torsion Tool was evaluated comparing femur bones as personalised with the Torsion Tool and scaled generic femurs with manually segmented bones as golden standard for six typically developing children and thirteen children with cerebral palsy. The tool generated femur geometries closer to the segmentations, with lower maximum (−19%) and root mean square (−18%) errors and higher Jaccard indices (+9%) compared to generic femurs. Furthermore, the tool resulted in larger improvements for participants with higher NSA and AVA deviations. The Torsion Tool allows an automatic, fast, and user-friendly way of personalising femoral and tibial geometry in an OpenSim musculoskeletal model. Personalisation is expected to be particularly relevant in pathological populations, as will be further investigated by evaluating the effects on simulation outcomes

The effects of electromyography-assisted modelling in estimating musculotendon forces during gait in children with cerebral palsy

Neuro-musculoskeletal modelling can provide insight into the aberrant muscle function during walking in those suffering cerebral palsy (CP). However, such modelling employs optimization to estimate muscle activation that may not account for disturbed motor control and muscle weakness in CP. This study evaluated different forms of neuro-musculoskeletal model personalization and optimization to estimate musculotendon forces during gait of nine children with CP (GMFCS I-II) and nine typically developing (TD) children. Data collection included 3D-kinematics, ground reaction forces, and electromyography (EMG) of eight lower limb muscles. Four different optimization methods estimated muscle activation and musculotendon forces of a scaled-generic musculoskeletal model for each child walking, i.e. (i) static optimization that minimized summed-excitation squared; (ii) static optimization with maximum isometric muscle forces scaled to body mass; (iii) an EMG-assisted approach using optimization to minimize summed-excitation squared while reducing tracking errors of experimental EMG-linear envelopes and joint moments; and (iv) EMG-assisted with musculotendon model parameters first personalized by calibration. Both static optimization approaches showed a relatively low model performance compared to EMG envelopes. EMG-assisted approaches performed much better, especially in CP, with only a minor mismatch in joint moments. Calibration did not affect model performance significantly, however it did affect musculotendon forces, especially in CP. A model more consistent with experimental measures is more likely to yield more physiologically representative results. Therefore, this study highlights the importance of calibrated EMG-assisted modelling when estimating musculotendon forces in TD children and even more so in children with CP

Personalisation of plantarflexor musculotendon model parameters in children with cerebral palsy

Neuromusculoskeletal models can be used to evaluate aberrant muscle function in cerebral palsy (CP), for example by estimating muscle and joint contact forces during gait. However, to be accurate, models should include representative musculotendon parameters. We aimed to estimate personalised parameters that capture the mechanical behaviour of the plantarflexors in children with CP and typically developing (TD) children. Ankle angle (using motion capture), torque (using a load-cell), and medial gastrocnemius fascicle lengths (using ultrasound) were measured during slow passive ankle dorsiflexion rotation for thirteen children with spastic CP and thirteen TD children. Per subject, the measured rotation was input to a scaled OpenSim model to simulate the torque and fascicle length output. Musculotendon model parameters were personalised by the best match between simulated and experimental torque-angle and fascicle length-angle curves according to a least-squares fit. Personalised tendon slack lengths were significantly longer and optimal fibre lengths significantly shorter in CP than model defaults and than in TD. Personalised tendon compliance was substantially higher in both groups compared to the model default. The presented method to personalise musculotendon parameters will likely yield more accurate simulations of subject-specific muscle mechanics, to help us understand the effects of altered musculotendon properties in CP

Combined surveillance and treatment register for children with cerebral palsy: the protocol of the Netherlands CP register

Introduction Cerebral palsy (CP) is a childhood onset, lifelong, condition. Early detection and timely treatment of potential problems during the child’s development are important to prevent secondary impairments and improve function. Clinical management of children with CP requires a spectrum of multidisciplinary interventions, which have an impact on short-term and long-term outcomes. However, there is a lack of knowledge about a personalised approach in this heterogeneous population. Various CP registers with different aims have been developed worldwide, which has made an important contribution to our understanding of CP. The purpose of this protocol is to describe the unique design of a combined multidisciplinary surveillance and treatment register for children with CP in the Netherlands, which aims to improve quality of care and to enhance an individual treatment approach.Methods and analysis The Netherlands CP Register combines a multidisciplinary surveillance programme with a standardised protocol for treatment registry. The register systematically collects real-life surveillance and treatment data of children with CP. The register contributes to daily care at the individual level by screening for potential secondary impairments using a decision-support tool, by visualising individual development using a dashboard, and by supporting goal setting and shared decision-making for interventions. The register provides a platform at the national level for quality of care improvement and a comprehensive database of real-life data allowing multicentre studies with a long-term follow-up. People with lived experience of CP, healthcare professionals from different disciplines and researchers collaborated in the development of the register.Ethics and dissemination The Netherlands CP register was submitted to the Medical Ethics Review Committee of VU University Medical Center (Amsterdam, the Netherlands), who judged the register not to be subject to the Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act. A scientific board reviews requests for dissemination of data from the register for specific research questions

The effects of electromyography-assisted modelling in estimating musculotendon forces during gait in children with cerebral palsy

Neuro-musculoskeletal modelling can provide insight into the aberrant muscle function during walking in those suffering cerebral palsy (CP). However, such modelling employs optimization to estimate muscle activation that may not account for disturbed motor control and muscle weakness in CP. This study evaluated different forms of neuro-musculoskeletal model personalization and optimization to estimate musculotendon forces during gait of nine children with CP (GMFCS I-II)and nine typically developing (TD)children. Data collection included 3D-kinematics, ground reaction forces, and electromyography (EMG)of eight lower limb muscles. Four different optimization methods estimated muscle activation and musculotendon forces of a scaled-generic musculoskeletal model for each child walking, i.e. (i)static optimization that minimized summed-excitation squared; (ii)static optimization with maximum isometric muscle forces scaled to body mass; (iii)an EMG-assisted approach using optimization to minimize summed-excitation squared while reducing tracking errors of experimental EMG-linear envelopes and joint moments; and (iv)EMG-assisted with musculotendon model parameters first personalized by calibration. Both static optimization approaches showed a relatively low model performance compared to EMG envelopes. EMG-assisted approaches performed much better, especially in CP, with only a minor mismatch in joint moments. Calibration did not affect model performance significantly, however it did affect musculotendon forces, especially in CP. A model more consistent with experimental measures is more likely to yield more physiologically representative results. Therefore, this study highlights the importance of calibrated EMG-assisted modelling when estimating musculotendon forces in TD children and even more so in children with CP.</p

The effects of electromyography-assisted modelling in estimating musculotendon forces during gait in children with cerebral palsy

Neuro-musculoskeletal modelling can provide insight into the aberrant muscle function during walking in those suffering cerebral palsy (CP). However, such modelling employs optimization to estimate muscle activation that may not account for disturbed motor control and muscle weakness in CP. This study evaluated different forms of neuro-musculoskeletal model personalization and optimization to estimate musculotendon forces during gait of nine children with CP (GMFCS I-II)and nine typically developing (TD)children. Data collection included 3D-kinematics, ground reaction forces, and electromyography (EMG)of eight lower limb muscles. Four different optimization methods estimated muscle activation and musculotendon forces of a scaled-generic musculoskeletal model for each child walking, i.e. (i)static optimization that minimized summed-excitation squared; (ii)static optimization with maximum isometric muscle forces scaled to body mass; (iii)an EMG-assisted approach using optimization to minimize summed-excitation squared while reducing tracking errors of experimental EMG-linear envelopes and joint moments; and (iv)EMG-assisted with musculotendon model parameters first personalized by calibration. Both static optimization approaches showed a relatively low model performance compared to EMG envelopes. EMG-assisted approaches performed much better, especially in CP, with only a minor mismatch in joint moments. Calibration did not affect model performance significantly, however it did affect musculotendon forces, especially in CP. A model more consistent with experimental measures is more likely to yield more physiologically representative results. Therefore, this study highlights the importance of calibrated EMG-assisted modelling when estimating musculotendon forces in TD children and even more so in children with CP

Muscle actions on crossed and non-crossed joints during upright standing and gait: A comprehensive description based on induced acceleration analysis

The multibody nature of the musculoskeletal system makes each applied force potentially accelerate all body segments. Hence, muscles’ actions on the kinematics of crossed and non-crossed joints should be estimated based on multibody dynamics. The objective of this study was to systematically investigate the actions of main lower limb muscles on the sagittal-plane angular kinematics of the hip, knee, and ankle joints, during upright standing and gait. Subject-specific simulations were performed to compute the muscle–tendon forces based on three-dimensional kinematic data collected from 10 able-bodied subjects during walking at preferred speed and during relaxed standing posture. A subject-scaled model consisting of the lower limb segments, 19 degrees of freedom and 92 Hill-type muscle–tendon units was used. Muscle-induced joint angular accelerations were estimated by Induced Acceleration Analysis in OpenSim. A comprehensive description of the estimated joint accelerations induced by lower limb muscles was presented, for upright standing and for the whole gait cycle. The observed muscle actions on crossed and non-crossed joints were phase- and task-specific. The main flexors and extensors for each joint were reported. Particular biarticular muscles presented actions opposite to their anatomical classification for specific joints. Antagonist muscle actions were revealed, such as the hitherto unknown opposite actions of the soleus and gastrocnemius at the ankle, and of the iliopsoas and soleus at the knee and ankle, during upright standing. Agonist actions among remote muscles were also identified. The presented muscle actions and their roles in joint kinematics of bipedal standing and walking contribute to understanding task-specific coordination

How Can People Be so Good at Intercepting Accelerating Objects if They Are so Poor at Visually Judging Acceleration?

People are known to be very poor at visually judging acceleration. Yet, they are extremely proficient at intercepting balls that fall under gravitational acceleration. How is this possible? We previously found that people make systematic errors when trying to tap on targets that move with different constant accelerations or decelerations on interleaved trials. Here, we show that providing contextual information that indicates how the target will decelerate on the next trial does not reduce such errors. Such errors do rapidly diminish if the same deceleration is present on successive trials. After observing several targets move with a particular acceleration or deceleration without attempting to tap on them, participants tapped as if they had never experienced the acceleration or deceleration. Thus, people presumably deal with acceleration when catching or hitting a ball by compensating for the errors that they made on preceding attempts