Biomechanical Modeling and Analysis of Human Motion

Human motion is accomplished through muscle actuation producing torque about each joint. Inverse dynamics allows for the measurement of these forces and torques to be determined with non-invasive data collection techniques at low cost. Video was processed using MATLAB to determine position data of markers on each joint throughout a given motion. Position data was then converted into a series of rigid links to determine the angular position of these links for each frame of the given video. Internal forces and torques about each joint were then determined from the equations of motion using an inverse dynamics method. The vertical component of the ground reaction force was validated using a force plate. Simple position data cases were also developed and analyzed as validation of forces and torques determined by the inverse dynamics method. This research has verified the feasibility of a low cost, non-invasive system of analytical analysis of human motion. A direct result of this research is the possibility of a broad range of applications in the field of human kinetics, including gait analysis, prosthetic design and fitting, and locomotion in low gravity environments.