Modelling clavicular and scapular kinematics: from measurement to simulation

Abstract

Musculoskeletal models are intended to be used to assist in prevention and treatments of musculoskeletal disorders. To capture important aspects of shoulder dysfunction, realistic simulation of clavicular and scapular movements is crucial. The range of motion of these bones is dependent on thoracic, clavicular and scapular anatomy and therefore different for each individual. Typically, patient or subject measurements will therefore not fit on a model that uses a cadaveric morphology. Up till now, this problem was solved by adjusting measured bone rotations such that they fit on the model, but this leads to adjustments of on average 3.98° and, in some cases, even more than 8°. Two novel methods are presented that decrease this discrepancy between experimental data and simulations. For one method, the model is scaled to fit the subject, leading to a 34 % better fit compared to the existing method. In the other method, the set of possible joint rotations is increased by allowing some variation on motion constraints, resulting in a 42 % better fit. This change in kinematics also affected the kinetics: muscle forces of some important scapular stabilizing muscles, as predicted by the Delft Shoulder and Elbow Model, were altered by maximally 17 %. The effect on the glenohumeral joint contact force was however marginal (1.3 %). The methods presented in this paper might lead to more realistic shoulder simulations and can therefore be considered a step towards (clinical) application, especially for applications that involve scapular imbalance.

Real-Time Simulation of Three-Dimensional Shoulder Girdle and Arm Dynamics

“…The rigidity of this constraint may therefore be a significant factor affecting the model-predicted shoulder kinematics and may restrict the scapula and clavicle from taking up more normal positions. This constraint could be made more flexible, as proposed recently by Bolsterlee et al [24]. …”

Kinematics of the Shoulder Girdle During Pointing: Coordination Between Joints and their Contribution to the Peri-Personal Workspace

“…The coupling between scapula rotation and the displacement of its center could either be the result of a synergic organization of movement by the central nervous system Latash, 2008) or, more likely, of biomechanical constraints caused by the sliding of the scapula around the curved thoracic wall (Bolsterlee, Veeger, & van der Helm, 2014;Seth et al, 2015). These hypotheses are not incompatible with each other since movement is shaped both by central neural networks and local biomechanical constraints (Schaal & Sternad, 2001).…”

Singularity Free Parametrization of Human Limbs

“…Although some prior research Unzueta et al 2008] has considered the contribution of the clavicle joint, it is only implicated if a target is not reachable by using only the arm. Approximate kinematic models of the shoulder complex already exist [Maurel and Thalmann 1998], [Bolsterlee et al 2013]. For instance, [Klopcar et al 2007] proposed a 6-DOF model to mimic the movement of the shoulder girdle to synthesize the arm-reachable workspace.…”