Mechanics and neuromuscular dynamic control of the knee joint to prevent ACL injury in healthy and pathological population

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The ultimate goal of the proposed research program is to continue previous scientific works and investigate new research problems. The goal aims for a better understanding in the long- and mid-term of the mechanics and neuromuscular control of the knee joint and ACL strain behaviour during sport- like motion, and ultimately to identify the mechanism of ACL injuries in both genders. To reach this goal, four operational objectives must be carried out: (1) develop and validate a non-invasive skin marker optimisation technique for three dimensional lower limb kinematic analyses for simulated sport motions; (2) investigate the gender differences in kinematics, kinetics and neuromuscular control of the lower-limb joints during controlled, unanticipated, and perturbed movements; (3) determine in-vivo strain behaviour, especially in women, during sport specific movements, and; (4) develop a gender-specific musculo-skeletal model to predict ACL strain by using kinematics, kinetics and neuromuscular parameters of lower-limb joints as obtained from Objective 2 and 3. The proposed research program will provide important information for gaining a thorough understanding of normal, pathological and gender differences in knee joint functions during various simulated movements. The design of this research program is unique in its attempt to validate skin-marker optimisation and musculoskeletal ACL strain by in vivo data previously collected. Although many studies have been undertaken, no exact cause for the gender discrepancy in non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injuries has yet been determined. Many factors have indeed been identified, including a gender difference in neuromuscular control of the lower limb. However, this latter factor needs further investigation. Though relative muscle activation and its timing has been examined, the time-frequency characteristic has yet to be explored. Therefore, by performing a time-frequency analysis through wavelet transform, new information regarding the neuromuscular control strategies of men and women will be acquired. Clearly, a complete and precise biomechanics analysis of human knee motion is necessary to better understand the contribution and function of skeletal and muscular structures of this joint, and will in turn allow clinicians to better diagnose pathokinesiological knee motions, sport therapists to improve their treatments, and orthopaedists to choose the ideal surgical procedures.