Update of the articular representation of the TLEM 2.0 musculoskeletal model
Abstract
To provide reliable results, musculoskeletal models must accurately represent human anatomy and be consistent with anatomical function. While considerable effort has been made to improve the muscular modeling, the same is often not true for the kinematic chain representing skeletal mobility. The aim of this work is therefore to take one of the most comprehensive musculoskeletal models, the TLEM 2.0, and improve its articular representation. Based on bone morphology, 3D articular kinematics of the tibio-femoral, patella-femoral, talo-tibial, and calcaneo-talar joints have been reconstructed by joint congruence maximization. Given these reference motions: the most isometric fibers for the main ligaments at the knee and the ankle have been identified; contact points and normals have been defined; the neutral configuration of the model has been defined. With respect to the original kinematic chain based on revolute joints, the one here proposed presents no joint distraction nor copenetration between the bones, together with a more physiological ligament elongation during joint motion, resulting in an articular representation more consistent with the TLEM 2.0 anatomy. These improvements substantially strengthen the anatomical fidelity of TLEM 2.0 and provide a robust foundation for next-generation MSK models. The updated dataset enables more reliable estimation of ligament and contact forces, supports the development of advanced rigid or deformable joint mechanisms, and offers a generalizable framework for subject-specific personalization whenever joint geometry is available. This represents a significant step toward MSK models capable of reliably capturing articular function under load.
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BibTeX
@article{conconi2026update,
title = {{Update of the articular representation of the TLEM 2.0 musculoskeletal model}},
author = {Michele Conconi and Raphael Dumas and Nicola Sancisi},
journal = {PLoS ONE},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0358863},
url = {https://univ-lyon1.hal.science/hal-05758744v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Update of the articular representation of the TLEM 2.0 musculoskeletal model
AU - Michele Conconi
AU - Raphael Dumas
AU - Nicola Sancisi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/21
JO - PLoS ONE
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0358863
UR - https://univ-lyon1.hal.science/hal-05758744v1
AB - To provide reliable results, musculoskeletal models must accurately represent human anatomy and be consistent with anatomical function. While considerable effort has been made to improve the muscular modeling, the same is often not true for the kinematic chain representing skeletal mobility. The aim of this work is therefore to take one of the most comprehensive musculoskeletal models, the TLEM 2.0, and improve its articular representation. Based on bone morphology, 3D articular kinematics of the tibio-femoral, patella-femoral, talo-tibial, and calcaneo-talar joints have been reconstructed by joint congruence maximization. Given these reference motions: the most isometric fibers for the main ligaments at the knee and the ankle have been identified; contact points and normals have been defined; the neutral configuration of the model has been defined. With respect to the original kinematic chain based on revolute joints, the one here proposed presents no joint distraction nor copenetration between the bones, together with a more physiological ligament elongation during joint motion, resulting in an articular representation more consistent with the TLEM 2.0 anatomy. These improvements substantially strengthen the anatomical fidelity of TLEM 2.0 and provide a robust foundation for next-generation MSK models. The updated dataset enables more reliable estimation of ligament and contact forces, supports the development of advanced rigid or deformable joint mechanisms, and offers a generalizable framework for subject-specific personalization whenever joint geometry is available. This represents a significant step toward MSK models capable of reliably capturing articular function under load.
SN - 1932-6203
SN - 1932-6203
ER -