Dynamic simulation of human movement using large-scale models of the body

We develop a detailed model of the body and used it, together with dynamic optimization theory, to simulate two very different motor tasks: vertical jumping and walking. Dynamic optimization was used because this approach allows a model of both the system dynamics and the goal of the motor task to be included in the formulation of the problem. We first simulated a maximum vertical jump because this task presents a well defined performance criterion; it provides an excellent paradigm for evaluating the dynamic response of any model. Once the dynamic optimization problem for jumping was solved and the response of the model validated against experimental data, the model was then used to simulate normal walking over level ground.