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Measuring In Vivo Joint Motion and Ligament Function: New Developments

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Sports Injuries

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Abstract

Recent technological advancements have enabled researchers to accurately measure in vivo 3-dimensional (3-D) joint kinematics, as well as to determine the corresponding forces experienced by the individual soft tissues in and around the joint. In this chapter, the development of these new approaches will be reviewed, as well as how they could be combined and used with computational models to examine the function of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in vivo in a way that was not possible in the past.

To do this, we will use a road map that we introduced in 1999 showing how to combine in vivo kinematic data with (1) in vitro experimental data and (2) computational models, to predict ACL forces in vivo (Woo et al., Am J Sports Med 27:533–543, 1999a). To date, it is possible to measure the relative movements between the femur and tibia during in vivo activities accurately by means of biplanar fluoroscopy. Cadaveric knees can be tested on a robotic/universal force-moment sensor (UFS) testing system so that the in-situ forces in the ACL can be measured. Further, mathematical models of the knee, namely, the finite element model and the musculoskeletal model, have also been constructed to calculate the same forces in the ACL. We will discuss how these models could be validated and once validated, how they could become powerful and useful tools to determine the ACL function during more complicated in vivo activities, as well as be used to compile a database for gender-, age-, and size-dependent differences. The data can then be used to objectively evaluate new surgical procedures and rehabilitation protocols. In the end, the new knowledge gained should lead to improvements in the management of ACL injuries, as well as development of injury prevention strategies that are scientifically based.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioengineering, Musculoskeletal Research Center, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 300 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Savio L.-Y. Woo, Kathryn F. Farraro, Jonquil R. Flowers & Connie Chen

Authors
  1. Savio L.-Y. Woo
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  2. Kathryn F. Farraro
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  3. Jonquil R. Flowers
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  4. Connie Chen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Savio L.-Y. Woo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology and Department of Sports Medicine, Hacettepe University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Mahmut Nedim Doral

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Jon Karlsson

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Woo, S.LY., Farraro, K.F., Flowers, J.R., Chen, C. (2015). Measuring In Vivo Joint Motion and Ligament Function: New Developments. In: Doral, M.N., Karlsson, J. (eds) Sports Injuries. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36569-0_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36569-0_8

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-36568-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-36569-0

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