Efficient trajectory optimization for curved running using a 3D musculoskeletal model with implicit dynamics.

Trajectory optimization with musculoskeletal models can be used to reconstruct measured movements and to predict changes in movements in response to environmental changes. It enables an exhaustive analysis of joint angles, joint moments, ground reaction forces, and muscle forces, among others. However, its application is still limited to simplified problems in two dimensional space or straight motions.

Optimal control simulation predicts effects of midsole materials on energy cost of running.

Testing sports equipment with athletes is costly, time-consuming, hazardous and sometimes impracticable. We propose a method for virtual testing of running shoes and predict how midsoles made of BOOST affect energy cost of running. We contribute a visco-elastic contact model and identified model parameters based on load-displacement measurements.

Inertial sensor based and shoe size independent gait analysis including heel and toe clearance estimation.

Falls are a major cause for morbidity and mortality in the ageing society. Inertial sensor based gait assessment including the analysis of the heel and toe clearance can be an indicator for the risk of falling. This paper presents a method for calculating the continuous heel and toe clearance without the knowledge of the shoe dimensions as well as the foot angle in the sagittal plane.

Evaluation of a Kinematically-Driven Finite Element Footstrike Model.

A dynamic finite element model of a shod running footstrike was developed and driven with 6 degree of freedom foot segment kinematics determined from a motion capture running trial. Quadratic tetrahedral elements were used to mesh the footwear components with material models determined from appropriate mechanical tests. Model outputs were compared with experimental high-speed video (HSV) footage, vertical ground reaction force (GRF), and center of pressure (COP) excursion to determine whether such an approach is appropriate for the development of athletic footwear.

A wireless trigger for synchronization of wearable sensors to external systems during recording of human gait.

Mobile gait analysis focuses on the automatic extraction of gait parameters from wearable sensor data. However, development of algorithms for this task requires kinematic data with accurate and highly synchronous ground truth. In this paper we present a wireless trigger system which allows reliable synchronization of wearable sensors to external systems providing ground truth.