Biomechanical Engineering of Bone Health and the Science of Quarantine

Abstract

Biomechanics plays a pivotal role in human mobility by ensuring coordinated movement through the musculoskeletal system (MSK). This system is crucial for balance, force generation, and body weight support during activities like walking and running. The musculoskeletal implications of COVID-19, even in mild to moderate cases, remain an area of significant clinical interest. This thesis explores walking and running biomechanics in COVID and Non-COVID groups using personalized motion capture and biomechanical modeling. A comprehensive methodology involving motion data acquisition, personalized 3D bone modeling, and kinematic and kinetic analysis using OpenCap and OpenSim has been employed. Key findings include variations in gait parameters, joint angles, and muscle activation patterns between the groups, highlighting potential long-term musculoskeletal impacts of COVID-19. Specific emphasis is placed on the stance and swing phases of the gait cycle, hip, knee, and ankle joint angles, and normalized muscle fiber lengths and forces for critical muscle groups such as the quadriceps, hamstrings, and gastrocnemius. This work provides valuable insights into the biomechanics of gait in post-COVID individuals and establishes a foundation for further research into rehabilitation strategies.