A Multisegment Computer Simulation of Human Normal Gait

Physics-based models of human locomotion potentially provides a useful tool for full body biomechanical analysis, provides insights into equipment designs as well as for the study of man-machine interactions. To enable such model to be used in biomechanical analysis, proper capture and input of human motion data as well as modelling parameter is needed to ensure meaningful and reliable results is obtained. A dynamic multisegment human model to determine biomechanical parameters such as ground reaction forces and intersegmental joint moments during normal level walking was developed using Figure Modeller. The computed data is compared against experimental findings. Limited published information on the methodology and the computed biomechanical data is currently available. The biomechanical model consists of 15 rigid body segments and is driven by torques produced by proportional-derivative (PD) controllers at each joints and interactions between the foot segments and the ground. Some of the key modelling parameters includes the proportional and differential gains at each joint as well as the foot and ground contact properties such as friction. The paper reports on the methodology adopted and the results obtained from the simulation.