A forward dynamic model of gait with application to stress analysis of bone

A model of human gait is developed for the purpose of relating neural controls to the state of stress in a skeletal member. This is achieved by implementing a forward dynamic model of gait in which the human body is modeled as an ensemble of articulating rigid-body segments controlled by a minimal muscle set. Neurological signals act as the input into musculotendon dynamics. Prom the muscular forces, the joint moments and resulting motion of the segmental model are derived. At fixed moments in the gait cycle, the joint torques and joint reaction forces are incorporated into an equilibrium analysis of the segmental elements, modeled as elastic bodies undergoing biaxial bending.