Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

The Development And Enhancement Of A Forward Mathematical Model Of The Human Knee Joint, Seth Coomer

Doctoral Dissertations

Degenerative joint disease, or osteoarthritis, is a common occurrence in the knee joint. This can often result in joint pain, decrease in range of motion, and ultimately disability. One way to counteract osteoarthritis is the incorporation of a total knee arthroplasty (TKA). TKAs replace the damaged bone and soft tissue surrounding the knee with metal and polyethylene components. Ideally this will improve the joint’s performance and reduce pain. However, there is still a number of TKA patients who remain dissatisfied. In order to investigate this, in depth research must be done on the design and performance of TKAs.

One such …

Motor Control Quantification And Necessary Improvements For Individuals With Post-Stroke Gait: Implications For Future Customizable Rehabilitation Approaches, Azarang Asadi

Doctoral Dissertations

Although often taken for granted, walking is an extremely complex motor skill that requires sensory inputs, neural communication, advanced control strategies, and coordination of the muscles and joints. Electrical signals traveling from the brain to the muscles are transformed to mechanical forces to achieve desired motion. A stroke damages the central nervous system and neural pathways, limiting the ability of survivors to walk. Walking speed is significantly decreased and asymmetrical walking patterns emerge. A crucial component of stroke rehabilitation is gait training, a therapeutic intervention to help individuals to improve their walking ability, as walking is essential for functional independence …

Dynamic Simulations And Data Mining Of Single-Leg Jump Landing: Implications For Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Prevention, Kristin Denise Morgan

Doctoral Dissertations

It is estimated that 400,000 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occur in the United States each year with the cost of ACL reconstruction surgery and rehabilitation exceeding $1 billion annually. The majority of ACL injuries are non-contact injuries occurring during cutting and jump landing movements. Because the majority of the injuries are non-contact injuries there is the potential to develop programs to reduce the risk of injury. Given our understanding of the joint kinematics and kinetics that place an individual at high risk for ACL, researchers have developed neuromuscular training programs that focus on improving muscle function in order to …

Dynamics, Electromyography And Vibroarthrography As Non-Invasive Diagnostic Tools: Investigation Of The Patellofemoral Joint, Filip Leszko

Doctoral Dissertations

The knee joint plays an essential role in the human musculoskeletal system. It has evolved to withstand extreme loading conditions, while providing almost frictionless joint movement. However, its performance may be disrupted by disease, anatomical deformities, soft tissue imbalance or injury. Knee disorders are often puzzling, and accurate diagnosis may be challenging. Current evaluation approach is usually limited to a detailed interview with the patient, careful physical examination and radiographic imaging. The X-ray screening may reveal bone degeneration, but does not carry sufficient information of the soft tissue conditions. More advanced imaging tools such as MRI or CT are available, …