Biocomputation of the Links Between Muscle Morphology, Coordination and Injury

描述(申请人提供)：肌肉拉伤是运动医学诊所最常见的情况之一。然而，治疗方法多种多样，再伤害率往往很高，这在一定程度上反映了对影响受伤风险的因素缺乏基本了解。流行的理论认为，损伤是由于活跃的肌肉纤维过度紧张造成的。这项研究的目的是开发新的生物计算工具来预测和分析与损伤相关的运动过程中骨骼肌内的应变分布。模型预测将与使用最先进的动态磁共振成像实验获得的应变测量进行比较。一旦得到验证，我们将使用生物计算工具来调查形态和协调性如何影响跑步过程中腿筋损伤的风险。具体目标如下。目标1将使用动态磁共振成像技术来测量伸长收缩过程中单个腿筋肌肉内的应变分布，这是一种通常与损伤相关的负荷状况。肌肉之间的比较将为研究股二头肌长头肌腿筋损伤的倾向提供新的见解。Aim 2将建立一个生物计算框架来预测运动过程中肌肉应变的分布。该框架将肌肉组织行为的有限元模拟与全身运动的动态模拟结合起来。这些方法将通过将应变预测与目标1中的动态图像确定的应变预测进行比较来验证。然后，我们将使用该框架来研究肌肉兴奋、腿筋组织应变和跑步过程中骨骼运动之间的关系。AIM 3将评估计算模型是否可以预测再损伤预防策略。我们将建立和验证由于先前的腿筋损伤而导致组织结构残留变化的受试者的模型。然后，我们将使用软件框架来确定如何调整运动协调以适应损伤引起的形态变化。这项研究将建立一个生物计算框架，揭示肌肉形态、协调性和损伤风险之间的复杂关系，从而为确定康复和损伤预防策略提供新的范式。肌肉拉伤是运动医学诊所最常见的情况之一。然而，治疗肌肉损伤的方法多种多样，再伤害率往往很高。这项建议结合了新的生物计算工具和成像技术，为预防和康复腿筋肌损伤建立了科学基础。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Muscle strain injuries are one of the most common conditions seen in sports medicine clinics. However, methods of treatment are variable and re-injury rates tend to be high which, in part, reflects a lack of fundamental understanding of the factors that influence injury risk. The prevailing theory is that injury occurs as a result of excessive strain of active muscle fibers. The goal of this study is to develop novel biocomputational tools to predict and analyze the strain distributions within skeletal muscles during movements associated with injury. Model predictions will be compared with strain measures obtained using state-of-the-art dynamic magnetic resonance imaging experiments. Once validated, we will use the biocomputational tools to investigate how morphology and coordination influence hamstring injury risk during running. Following are the specific aims. Aim 1 will use a dynamic magnetic resonance imaging technique to measure the strain distributions within the individual hamstring muscles during lengthening contractions, a loading condition commonly associated with injury. Comparisons between muscles will provide new insights into the propensity for hamstring injury to occur in the biceps femoris long head. Aim 2 will build a biocomputational framework to predict muscle strain distributions during movement. The framework will couple finite-element simulations of muscle tissue behavior with dynamic simulations of whole body movement. The methods will be validated by comparing strain predictions with those determined from the dynamic images in Aim 1. We will then use the framework to investigate the relationship between muscle excitations, hamstring tissue strains and skeletal movement during running. Aim 3 will evaluate whether computational models predict re-injury prevention strategies. We will build and validate models of subjects who exhibit residual changes in tissue structures as a result of a previous hamstring injury. We will then use the software framework to identify how movement coordination can be adapted to accommodate injury-induced changes in morphology. This research will establish a biocomputational framework that reveals the complex relationship between muscle morphology, coordination and injury risk, thus providing a new paradigm for identifying rehabilitation and injury prevention strategies. Muscle strain injuries are one of the most common conditions seen in sports medicine clinics. However, methods of treating muscle injuries are variable and re-injury rates tend to be high. This proposal couples novel biocomputational tools and imaging techniques to establish a scientific basis for preventing and rehabilitating hamstring muscle injuries.