Creation and validation of mathematical shoulder models

Predicting demands on the shoulder

skeleton of the torso (ribs) and right shoulder and upper arm
A lack of historical robust analysis methods to evaluate the shoulder has routinely resulted in ineffective design, surgical and clinical decisions.

Developing better approaches to representing the shoulder to answer prospective questions requires addressing important unresolved aspects of shoulder function and biomechanical model design.

Developing better models

Our laboratory is actively working towards improving shoulder biomechanical models. Without reliable characterization of the dose, or exposure, it is impossible to build a dose-injury relationship for the shoulder.

Mathematical modeling is a means to estimate these exposures across a variety of observed and simulated scenarios.

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Types of models

This multi-scale effort includes developing:

  • musculoskeletal computational human and primate models
  • tissue failure and propagation models
  • probabilistic variance-based population-level models
  • fatigue precipitation models

All of these aim to enhance understanding of shoulder mechanics.

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Completed and ongoing research

Trainees in the lab are currently focusing on:

  • Scapular kinematics and joint load distributions

Some completed projects include (*denotes trainee):

  • *MacLean K.F.E., and Dickerson C.R., 2020, Development of a comparative chimpanzee musculoskeletal glenohumeral model: implications for human function, Journal of Experimental Biology, in press as of October 1, 2020.
  • *Vidt M.E., *La Delfa N.J., *Maciukiewicz J.M., *Ho A.J., Callaghan J.P., and Dickerson C.R., 2019, The benefits of advanced exposure metrics to estimate occupational shoulder demands, International Journal of Human Factors Modelling and Simulation, 7:13-33
  • *Sagl B, Dickerson CR, Stavness I, 2018, Fast forward dynamics tracking simulation: application to upper limb and shoulder modeling, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 66(2):335-342. abstract
  • *Whittaker RL, Park W, Dickerson CR, 2018, Application of a symbolic motion structure representation algorithm to identify upper extremity kinematic changes during a repetitive task, Journal of Biomechanics, 72:235-40. abstract
  • Chopp-Hurley JN, Langenderfer JL, and Dickerson CR, 2016, A probabilistic orthopaedic population model to predict fatigue-induced subacromial geometric variability, Journal of Biomechanics, 49:543-9. Abstract

Visit our publications page for a complete list of published peer-reviewed articles.