Muscle-ligament interactions at the human knee (II) - Model sensitivity analysis

In part I of this paper, a three-dimensional model of the human knee joint was incorporated into a detailed human musculoskeletal lower extremity model. The model was used to determine the muscle, ligament, and articular contact forces transmitted at the knee as humans extend/flex in an isometric state. Part II investigates the sensitivity of the model calculations to changes in the parameters which describe the mechanical behavior of cartilage and the ligaments of the knee. The ligament function in the real knee was most sensitive to changes in ligament reference lengths or strains, less sensitive to changes in cartilage stiffness, and least sensitive to changes in ligament stiffness.