Validity of a musculoskeletal model using two different geometries for estimating hip contact forces during normal walking
Résumé
The validation of musculoskeletal models remains a major challenge. However, thanks to some freely available data sets, it is now possible to evaluate estimated joint contact forces using the in vivo measurements of instrumented prostheses. Several authors have thus proceeded to a partial validation (i.e. musculo-tendon forces remain invalidated or only validated in terms of activity/non-activity compared to EMG) of their model using these data sets. Beyond these considerations, such data sets present a unique tool to compare the reliability of different methods and/or models. For example, the number of muscular lines of action has already been discussed in the literature and its potential impacts on the model outputs are high- lighted. However, the results were not compared to in vivo measurements, and it was thus not possible to conclude about the models validity. Moreover, while the knee joint has been extensively explored and many models have been subject to validation, few studies were interested in the hip joint and the validity of the models. The aim of this study was thus to implement two different musculoskeletal geometry models and to compare the estimated hip contact forces to in vivo measurements.