Orthopaedic Biomechanics Lab, Victoria Hospital, London, Canada.
Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Western University, London, Canada.
Biomed Res Int. 2023 Sep 22;2023:4914082. doi: 10.1155/2023/4914082. eCollection 2023.
Biomechanics researchers often experimentally measure static or fluctuating dynamic contact forces, areas, and stresses at the interface of natural and artificial joints, including the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. This information helps explain joint contact mechanics, as well as mechanisms that may contribute to disease, damage, and degradation. Currently, the most common in vitro experimental technique involves a thin pressure-sensitive film inserted into the joint space; but, the film's finite thickness disturbs the joint's ordinary articulation. Similarly, the most common in vivo experimental technique uses video recording of 3D limb motion combined with dynamic analysis of a 3D link-segment model to calculate joint contact force, but this does not provide joint contact area or stress distribution. Moreover, many researchers may be unaware of older or newer alternative techniques that may be more suitable for their particular research application. Thus, this article surveys over 50 years of English-language scientific literature in order to (a) describe the basic working principles, advantages, and disadvantages of each technique, (b) examine the trends among the studies and methods, and (c) make recommendations for future directions. This article will hopefully inform biomechanics investigators about various in vitro and in vivo experimental methods for studying the contact mechanics of joints.
生物力学研究人员经常通过实验测量自然和人工关节界面处的静态或波动动态接触力、面积和压力，包括肩部、肘部、臀部和膝盖。这些信息有助于解释关节接触力学，以及可能导致疾病、损伤和退化的机制。目前，最常见的体外实验技术涉及插入关节间隙的薄压敏膜；但是，膜的有限厚度会干扰关节的正常运动。同样，最常见的体内实验技术使用 3D 肢体运动的视频记录，并结合 3D 连杆模型的动态分析来计算关节接触力，但这不能提供关节接触面积或应力分布。此外，许多研究人员可能不知道更适合其特定研究应用的较旧或更新的替代技术。因此，本文调查了 50 多年来的英文科学文献，以便：(a) 描述每种技术的基本工作原理、优点和缺点；(b) 检查研究和方法中的趋势；(c) 为未来的方向提出建议。本文希望能为生物力学研究人员提供有关研究关节接触力学的各种体外和体内实验方法的信息。
