A Neuro-Muscular Elasto-Dynamic Model of the Human Arm

Abstract

In this paper we develop a neuro-muscular elasto-dynamic model of the human arm. The generality of the approach provides a method for relating effects of neural and muscular control on stress development in skeletal structures. The humerus is pinned parallel to the body and allowed to rotate in the plane. The radius and ulna are free to move in the sagittal plane. The bones are modeled as elastic elements, allowing large transverse deflections and elongations. Standard Hill-type models of the musculotendon actuators are used to generate the joint torques. Simulations are presented that correspond to both open and closed loop neural stimulus, and stresses and strains that result from both types of control are compared.