A screening method to analyse the sensitivity of a lower limb multibody kinematic model

Abstract

The study presents a screening method used to identify the influential parameters of a lower limb model including ligaments, at low numerical cost. Concerning multibody kinematics optimisation, the ligament parameters (isometric length) were found the most influential ones in a previous study. The screening method tested if they remain influential with minimised length variations. The most important parameters for tibiofemoral kinematics were the skin markers, segment lengths and joint parameters, including two ligaments. This was confirmed by a quantitative sensitivity analysis. The screening method has the potential to be used as a stand-alone procedure for a sensitivity analysis.

Keywords:

• Sensitivity analysis
• Morris method
• biomechanics
• multibody kinematics optimisation
• ligament constraints
• joint angles

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.