Novel Approaches for Modeling, Mapping, and Restoring Human Trunk Neuromechanics

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Being able to dynamically stabilize the human trunk is key for maintaining postural balance and effectively completing upper limb tasks. While our ability to perform such tasks with the trunk's assistance is often compromised following neuromuscular impairment, theoretical tools for characterizing the neuromechanical function of the trunk, and derived quantitative insights, are still inferior to those in lower body research. Such insights, however, are crucial for driving technological innovations that can restore trunk function following impairment. Building on my past work, this program's long-term goal is to create effective technologies that enable individuals with neuromuscular impairments to stabilize their trunk in daily living. My short- to mid-term objectives are to: (1) develop sex-specific, neuromechanical models of the upper body; (2) use the models to obtain a quantitative neuromechanical map of the trunk in dynamic posture and upper limb function; and (3) systematically identify parameters for electrical spine stimulation that optimize the trunk's dynamic stability during seated posture. In Subprogram 1, my team will use the female and male datasets of the Visible Human Project to obtain musculoskeletal parameters for kinematic, dynamic, and muscle modeling. Using the parameters, we will develop detailed, sex-specific neuromechanical models of the upper body that fully consider the movement of the upper limbs and can be tuned to specific individuals. The models will allow my team to establish, in Subprogram 2, a quantitative map of trunk neuromechanics that accounts for age, sex, and sensorimotor constraints. Experimental data obtained for a set of postural recovery and previously validated upper limb tasks will be used to quantify, correlate, and visualize trunk kinematics and moments as well as muscle forces via our neuromechanical models. In Subprogram 3, we will first apply non-invasive spine stimulation to healthy young individuals in prone and upright positions, to systematically identify stimulation parameters that maximize the stimulation's effect on neuromechanical trunk measures. Second, the optimized stimulation parameters will be used in healthy young individuals to quantify the stimulation's influence on seated trunk stability and postural recovery during unexpected base-of-support perturbations. Despite the trunk's importance in daily activities, a complete neuromechanical characterization of the trunk and effective tools for quantifying and restoring its function are lacking. This program will advance our knowledge by uncovering the sex-specific intricacies of trunk neuromechanics in postural and upper limb function using mechanistic tools; and by identifying effective spine stimulation parameters for restoring trunk function in dynamic posture. These contributions will drive future innovations that translate into effective rehabilitation strategies and bionic neuroprostheses for the upper body.