Challenging Conditions and Their Effects on the Biomechanics of Human Movement

Slips and trips that lead to falls are some of the leading causes of injuries in older adults. Previous research has identified a variety of fall factors which include environmental conditions, cognitive distractions, and physical ailments. However, there is little known about the effects of these factors on the biomechanics of human movement. We hypothesize that challenging conditions (slick surface, uneven ground, weight-bearing, and cognitive distractions) alter the biomechanics of human movement during activities of daily living, resulting in a stiffer knee and higher compressive load across the knee joint. First, whole-body movement will be captured from two cohorts: 14 subjects between the ages of 18-25, and 14 subjects over the age of 65. Subject-specific data will be used to create a scaled model that simulates the subject's musculoskeletal movement via the software platform, OpenSim. The resulting data will then be used in conjunction with 3D imaging and finite element software to create subject-specific models of the knee joint. This information will be analyzed further to see if there is a relationship between musculoskeletal movement and knee stability. Findings may lead to musculoskeletal rehabilitation and injury prevention recommendations for subjects at risk from accidental falls.