A Global Approach to Assessing Uncertainty in Biomechanical Inverse Dynamic Analysis: Mathematical Model and Experimental Validation

• Published in: IEEE transactions on instrumentation and measurement Vol. 70; pp. 1 - 9
• Main Authors: Crenna, Francesco, Rossi, Giovanni Battista, Berardengo, Marta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 2021; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Anthropometry; Biological system modeling; Biomechanical engineering; Biomechanics; Computational modeling; inverse dynamics (ID); Mathematical model; Measurement uncertainty; Parameter identification; Parameter uncertainty; Probabilistic models; Systematics; Uncertainty
• ISSN: 0018-9456; 1557-9662
• DOI: 10.1109/TIM.2021.3072113

An important task in biomechanics is human body articulations' internal torques measurement. This is known as a kinetic or inverse-dynamics problem. Its solution requires a combination of kinematic and dynamic measurements with a biomechanical model, involving subject-related anthropometric parameters. The uncertainty-evaluation thereof is here considered. The method poses on a probabilistic model of the associated measurement system, according to the "Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement" general principles. We consider a comprehensive set of influence quantities, including markers' misplacement or parasite movements. The anthropometric parameters' uncertainty is discussed in detail. The proposed approach helps to identify the most influential experimental factors.