Making inferences about muscle forces from clinical observations

Abstract

The analysis of movement dysfunction often requires that inferences be made about the muscle forces which occur during motor task performance. Physiotherapists probably use a range of different models of analysis to make inferences about such forces. These models differ in the degree to which they invoke simplifying assumptions about the non-muscle forces acting on body segments. In some circumstances even the most simple models of analysis will enable reasonable inferences to be made about muscle forces, but in other situations it may be very difficult to make reasonable inferences about muscle forces from clinical observations alone.

Keywords: Biomechanics; Gait; Muscles.