Getting Started: Defining your Research Goals for the Model
- What results do I need to answer my research question?
- What elements of a model might these results be sensitive to?
- In what ranges will my study be conducted and in what ranges has the model been validated? If a model is not valid in the ranges of your study, how can you extend those ranges and re-validate the model?
General Questions
- What structures or systems are modeled?
- Is it a kinematic model or full dynamic model? Is it 3D?
- Is it a model of a new structure or structures? Does it build on an existing model? What models can it be compared to?
- What experimental data was used to build and test the model? If human or animal subjects were used, how many and what type of subjects (age, size, etc.)?
- What platform(s) is the model implemented in?
- Can the model be scaled or otherwise customized?
- Has the model been published or otherwise peer reviewed?
- Do other studies use/cite the model?
- Has the author of the model changed or updated the model since the original publication? Do I have and understand the most recent version?
Kinematic Models
Musculoskeletal Geometry
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- Were model moment arms compared to experimental data?
- Were maximum active joint moments compared to experimental data?
- Were passive joint moments compared to experimental data?
- Was a sensitivity analysis performed for any of the parameters of the model?
- Has the model been used to generate simulations?
- How much time is required to generate simulations of standard motions (e.g. walking, reaching)?
- How do the results compare to previously published data?
- For example, if a lower extremity model, does the model accurately predict knee forces from the grand challenge data set (https://simtk.org/home/kneeloads)?
More Help
The webinar “Musculoskeletal Models Deconstructed” provides some specific examples of how to evaluate and develop a model (watch | view slides).