Quantifying and Predicting Biomechanical Variability in Musculoskeletal Movement

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Muscle and joint anatomy, and upper limb movement are highly diverse across the population. This diversity poses scientific challenges for understanding fundamental patterns of human movement. Establishing features of normal movement enables assessment of adaptations to these patterns from factors related to activities of daily living, work or recreation. The shoulder is complex, with several muscles and joints providing exceptional functional capabilities. However, the challenges described are amplified by this large movement range and postural flexibility. My research is dedicated to understanding fundamental upper limb movement across a diverse population, through studying tissue responses and adaptations to different mechanical factors and developing techniques to capture population variability. The integration of experimental and computer simulation methodologies will be used to address research objectives within three interrelated themes. 1) Variability in muscle coordination and movement in response to mechanical exposures. Modifiers of muscle control and movement will be investigated. This will include quantifying modifications in muscle coordination in response to mechanical exposures such as posture, force, and repetitive activity. Focus will be directed towards studying variability in muscle and joint strategies related to muscle fatigue and recovery, and the implications on musculoskeletal movement and function. These relationships will be investigated while considering variability across an anthropometrically diverse population. 2) Methodological advancement in the measurement of biological tissues. Research dedicated to refining and developing novel methodologies to non-invasively quantify biological tissues will be conducted. Specifically, the capabilities of ultrasound to measure key muscle and joint characteristics accurately will be studied. 3) Computer simulation of upper limb movement to predict differences in muscle control. Three-dimensional computer simulation enables the quantification and prediction of outcomes that may not be possible to measure experimentally. Computer models of human movement will be developed to study how variation in muscle control modifies complex movement patterns, notably through simulating a fatiguing muscular response. Anticipated outcomes from this research program will yield exciting, novel contributions to the natural sciences and engineering landscape in Canada. Innovative advancements pertaining to the control, coordination and adaptation of muscular strategies and their implications on upper limb movement will be ascertained. The fundamental discoveries of my research program will have important implications for optimizing human performance, preventing muscle and joint damage, and designing safe workplaces. These findings and the pertinent applications will have high relevance for our younger and aging highly diverse Canadian population.