The goal of this project is to elucidate individual muscle function during human walking. Walking requires precise coordination of the neuromuscular and musculoskeletal systems. The complexity of these has made it difficult to determine the functional role of individual muscles. Understanding how individual muscles operate during normal healthy walking has important implications for understanding neuromuscular impairments and designing effective rehabilitation strategies. Specifically, this project seeks to achieve two aims; to determine the relative contribution of individual leg muscles to 1) body weight support and 2) forward propulsion during walking. To achieve these aims, a novel combination of experimental perturbation and detailed musculoskeletal modeling and computer simulation will be employed. Experimental designs will involve combinations of load carrying and applied forces to alter the external demand musculoskeletal system in a known way. Experimental data will incorporated in to the development of dynamic models and computer simulations matching the experimental conditions. Individual muscle function will be determined through electromyographic (EMG) analysis of experimental data and predictions from the simulations. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
1F32AR054245-01
Application #
7156706
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F10-H (21))
Program Officer
Nuckolls, Glen H
Project Start
2006-09-01
Project End
2009-08-31
Budget Start
2006-09-01
Budget End
2007-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$54,196
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Austin
Department
Engineering (All Types)
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
170230239
City
Austin
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
78712
McGowan, C P; Neptune, R R; Herzog, W (2013) A phenomenological muscle model to assess history dependent effects in human movement. J Biomech 46:151-7
McGowan, Craig P; Neptune, Richard R; Herzog, Walter (2010) A phenomenological model and validation of shortening-induced force depression during muscle contractions. J Biomech 43:449-54
McGowan, Craig P; Neptune, Richard R; Clark, David J et al. (2010) Modular control of human walking: Adaptations to altered mechanical demands. J Biomech 43:412-9
Browning, Raymond C; McGowan, Craig P; Kram, Rodger (2009) Obesity does not increase external mechanical work per kilogram body mass during walking. J Biomech 42:2273-8
McGowan, C P; Kram, R; Neptune, R R (2009) Modulation of leg muscle function in response to altered demand for body support and forward propulsion during walking. J Biomech 42:850-6
McGowan, C P; Neptune, R R; Kram, R (2008) Independent effects of weight and mass on plantar flexor activity during walking: implications for their contributions to body support and forward propulsion. J Appl Physiol 105:486-94