Model Studies in Orthopaedic Biomechanics

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Disorders in human musculoskeletal systems affect majority of population and are both the leading cause of sufferance and disability in people during their active working years and major concern for societies in terms of absenteeism and health care cost. Although the etiology of many of these disorders (e.g., low-back pain, arthritis, joint instability, deformity) is often a matter of uncertainty, there is ample evidence suggesting that mechanical factors play a prominent causative role. Identification of the role of mechanical factors in observed injuries, deformities and degenerative processes benefits broad segments of the society by reducing risks involved, improving quality of life, augmenting productivity and reducing health care cost especially when considering our ageing population. This proposal aims to continue on the realistic finite element model studies of the redundant human passive-active trunk and lower extremity neuro-musculoskeletal systems, lumbar spine, intervertebral discs, subchondral bone-articular cartilage structure and knee joint in intact, injured, degenerate and reconstructed conditions. These models carry out 3D coupled nonlinear active-passive transport, elastostatic, dynamic, viscoelastic, and multi-phasic analyses under various mechanical loading, muscle recruitment and postural/kinematics/boundary conditions. Our own in-house developed programs as well as commercially available package programs will extensively be used to complete the proposed studies.***The foregoing biomechanical model studies in combination with in vivo and in vitro measurements (carried out by our group, our collaborators or taken from the literature) are expected to : (1) markedly advance our understanding of the functional biomechanics and stability of the human trunk, knee joint and their constituent components; (2) identify associated risk factors for injuries, failures and degenerative processes; (3) develop, examine and propose methods and standards to reduce/prevent injuries and to improve safer performance of occupational and recreational tasks; (4) investigate and improve current exercise therapy, performance enhancement and rehabilitation management programs as well as surgical replacement methods; and finally (5) analyse and improve designs of constructs and prosthetic replacement systems.***The proposed investigations, while treating a wide range of novel and complex applications in orthopaedic biomechanics, will train highly qualified engineers and researchers that are much needed to effectively handle the current and future challenges (e.g., ageing, obesity, more active life-style, prevention, treatment, health-care cost) facing our society. *** **