Advanced Musculoskeletal Modeling with Emphasis on Advanced Joints and Subject-specific Models (2023)

This Ph.D. course introduces techniques for modeling of musculoskeletal systems based on multibody dynamics. Unlike most courses in the field, this one takes a bottom-up approach beginning multibody kinematics and ending with analysis of complex and anatomically realistic models. 

The first day of the course contains a general introduction to musculoskeletal modeling, but participants must be prepared to study the subject in preparation for the course.

The remainder focuses on advanced topics on the forefront of research.

The participants must install the AnyBody Modeling System and familiarize themselves with the system prior to the course. Software licenses will be provided.

The course contents are the following:

1.       Monday: Introduction to musculoskeletal modeling

          a.       Kinematics

          b.       Kinetics

          c.       The AnyBody Modeling System

2.       Tuesday: Advanced joint models

          a.       Advanced kinematic constraints

          b.       Force-dependent kinematics

3.       Wednesday:

         a.       Loose joint models

         b.       Introduction to subject-specific models

         c.       Implementation of scaling in the AnyScript model structure

4.       Thursday

         a.       Model morphing from medical image data

         b.       Individualization and calibration of muscle models

5.       Friday:

          a.       Validation

          b.       Introduction of assignment


Organizer:  Professor John Rasmussen, jr@mp.aau.dk

Lecturers:  John Rasmussen, Mark de Zee, Michael Skipper Andersen 

ECTS:          4

Time:          8 - 12 May 2023

Place:         Department of Materials and Production, Fibigerstræde 16, 9220 Aalborg Ø

Price:          DKK 500 for non-AAU participants to cover coffee and refreshments. DKK 5000 for industrial and non-university participants. 

Deadline    28 April

Participants: 30, Each participant must bring a reasonably modern Windows laptop on which software can be installed.

Important information concerning PhD courses:


We have over some time experienced problems with no-show for both project and general courses. It has now reached a point where we are forced to take action. Therefore, the Doctoral School has decided to introduce a no-show fee of DKK 3.000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before start. This can hopefully also provide new students a chance to register for courses during the year. We look forward to your registrations.