PhD Courses in Denmark

Advanced Musculoskeletal Modeling with Emphasis on the Thoracic Spine and the Shoulder 2025

Doctoral School of Engineering and Science at Aalborg University

Description: 

This Ph.D. course introduces techniques for modeling of musculoskeletal systems based on multibody dynamics. Unlike most courses in the field, this one takes a bottom-up approach beginning multibody kinematics and ending with analysis of complex and anatomically realistic models. 

The first day of the course contains a general introduction to musculoskeletal modeling, but participants must be prepared to study the subject in preparation for the course.

The remainder focuses on advanced topics on the forefront of research.

The participants must install the AnyBody Modeling System and familiarize themselves with the system prior to the course. Software licenses will be provided.

The course contents are the following:

1.       Monday: Introduction to musculoskeletal modeling (MSA)

  • Kinematics
  • Kinetics
  • The AnyBody Modeling System

2.       Tuesday: Model structure and AMMR (JR)

  • Introduction to the model repository and ecosystem
  • Model parts and structure
  • Scaling and morphing
  • Adding and removing body parts
  • How things are connected

3.       Wednesday: The thoracic spine model (JR)

  • Anatomy and biomechanics of the spine and thorax including breathing
  • Review of thorax models
  • The role of kinematic determinacy
  • The current thorax model and the averaging measure
  • Use of the thorax model for breathing and scoliosis models

4.       Thursday: Modeling of shoulder biomechanics (MdZ)

  • Anatomy and biomechanics of the shoulder
  • The shoulder model in AMMR
  • Review of research based on computational shoulder models.
  • The shoulder rhythm
  • Modeling stability, instability, rotator cuff deficiency and impingement

5.       Friday: Exercises and assignment (MSA)

  • Modeling workshop: develop your own model of the shoulder or thoracic spine
  • Introduction of assignment

Key literature: TBA

Organizer: Professor John Rasmussen, email: jr@mp.aau.dk

Lecturers: John Rasmussen, Mark de Zee, Michael Skipper Andersen

ECTS: 4.0

Time: 28 April - 2 May 2025

Place: Aalborg University, Department of Materials and Production, Fibigerstræde 16, 9220 Aalborg Ø

OBS: The course will run in a hybrid format with teachers and students with physical presence in Fibigerstræde 16 and an option to follow the course remotely via the Teams platform.

Zip code: 9220

City: Aalborg

Maximal number of participants: 30

Each participant must bring a reasonably modern Windows laptop on which software can be installed.

Deadline: 7 April 2025

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