Three-dimensional data-tracking simulations of sprinting using a direct collocation optimal control approach

 Biomechanical simulation and modelling approaches have the possibility to make ameaningful impact within applied sports settings, such as sprinting. However, forthis to be realised, such approaches mustfirst undergo a thorough quantitativeevaluation against experimental data. We developed a musculoskeletal modelling andsimulation framework for sprinting, with the objective to evaluate its ability toreproduce experimental kinematics and kinetics data for different sprinting phases.This was achieved by performing a series of data-tracking calibration (individual andsimultaneous) and validation simulations, that also featured the generation ofdynamically consistent simulated outputs and the determination of foot-groundcontact model parameters. The simulated values from the calibration simulationswere found to be in close agreement with the corresponding experimental data,particularly for the kinematics (average root mean squared differences (RMSDs)less than 1.0?and 0.2 cm for the rotational and translational kinematics, respectively)and ground reaction force (highest average percentage RMSD of 8.1%). Minimaldifferences in tracking performance were observed when concurrently determiningthe foot-ground contact model parameters from each of the individual orsimultaneous calibration simulations. The validation simulation yielded resultsthat were comparable (RMSDs less than 1.0?and 0.3 cm for the rotational andtranslational kinematics, respectively) to those obtained from the calibrationsimulations. This study demonstrated the suitability of the proposed framework forperforming future predictive simulations of sprinting, and gives confidence in its useto assess the cause-effect relationships of technique modification in relation toperformance. Furthermore, this is thefirst study to provide dynamically consistentthree-dimensional muscle-driven simulations of sprinting across different phases.