Volume 12, Issue 3 (11-2026)                   J Sport Biomech 2026, 12(3): 606-624 | Back to browse issues page


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Asgari P, Zandi S, Tabatabai Ghomsheh F, Nikmohammad H. Comparison of Knee Contact Force Estimation Errors Between Two OpenSim Musculoskeletal Models During Walking and Squatting. J Sport Biomech 2026; 12 (3) :606-624
URL: http://biomechanics.iauh.ac.ir/article-1-514-en.html
1- Department of Sport Injuries and Biomechanics, Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
2- Department of Ergonomics, Pediatric Neurorehabilitation Research Center, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (USWR), Tehran, Iran.
Abstract:   (17 Views)
Objective Accurate estimation of musculoskeletal forces is essential for understanding joint biomechanics, improving rehabilitation strategies, and optimizing implant design. Joint reaction forces can be estimated using biomechanical measurements combined with musculoskeletal modeling approaches. This study aimed to compare the accuracy of knee joint contact force estimation between the Gait2392 and Rajagopal musculoskeletal models implemented in OpenSim.
Methods Data from six participants (five males and one female; age: 68 ± 5 years; body mass: 88 ± 12 kg; height: 173 ± 4 cm) were analyzed. Biomechanical data collected during walking and squatting tasks were used in this study. After scaling both musculoskeletal models, joint reaction force analyses were performed in OpenSim. Relative errors between predicted knee contact forces and in vivo implant-measured forces were calculated. Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) paired t-tests were used to compare modeling errors between the two models at a significance level of 0.05.
Results SPM analysis revealed significantly greater estimation errors in the Rajagopal model during the stance phase of walking and across a substantial portion of the squat cycle, particularly in the vertical force component. The RMSE values for the Gait2392 model were 0.835 during walking and 1.536 during squatting, whereas the Rajagopal model demonstrated RMSE values of 1.486 and 3.371, respectively. The coefficient of determination (R²) values for the Gait2392 model were 0.665 during walking and 0.767 during squatting, while the Rajagopal model showed R² values of 0.639 and 0.750, respectively.
Conclusion The findings indicate that the Gait2392 model provides more accurate estimations of knee joint contact forces during walking and squatting tasks compared with the Rajagopal model. Therefore, the Gait2392 model may be more suitable for estimating knee joint contact forces in similar low-velocity functional activities.
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Type of Study: Applicable | Subject: Special
Received: 2026/05/12 | Accepted: 2026/07/30 | Published: 2026/08/14

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