Skeletal Muscle Architecture of the Goat Hindlimb

With the increased availability of software for generating muscle-driven simulations [e.g., 1], many investigators are creating biomechanical models and simulating movements, with the hope of preventing injuries or improving the efficacy of treatments. However, very few are validating the predictions of their models by comparing results to key parameters, such as the muscle forces and fascicle length changes measured in vivo. These parameters are difficult to quantify in humans, since they generally involve invasive techniques. Simulation-based studies of animals — which could be compared, for example, to sonomicrometry, EMG, or tendon force buckle measurements during in vivo experiments [e.g., 2] — are needed to test and refine techniques for modeling and simulation.