Ankle neuro-muscular model to study ankle instability

M8. Master thesis (incl. M6 optional)

We are looking for a master student of Movement Science, Mechanical engineering or Physical Education with an interest in clinical mathematics You will develop a foot and ankle neuro-muscular control model to study the effect of posture and ligament degeneration on ankle balance. Affinity with programming (MATLAB) is beneficial.

© Rosemary Dubbeldam

Background and aim

Ankle inversion trauma is one of the most frequent occurring lower limb injuries. While most people recover, there remains a high chance of re-injuring the ankle and in some cases, the injury becomes chronic. Neuro-muscular control models are used to simulate human motion behaviour and to better understand which factors are related to higher, non-physiological, loading of the body. After an ankle trauma, several tissues are damaged and may not recover fully, or due to lack of control, foot posture may remain non-optimal. 

The aim of this study is to further develop the foot and ankle neuro-muscular control model within our NeuroBOB and study the factors that may play a role in ankle control after an inversion trauma.

Your assignment 

Your assignment is to develop a more detailed foot and ankle model from our available NeuroBOB model in MATLAB. Your next step is to validate the model by means of available kinematic, kinetic and EMG data. And lastly, you will study the effects of pathologic sensory delay due to ligament degeneration, or the effects of foot posture on short-term muscle activation. If you are interested, you can also support the on-going balance assessments.

At the end of the assignment, you are expected to hand in a comprehensive report containing information on the background and aim of your study, your method, results, discussion and a final conclusion.

What else do you need to know?

You will be working in the department of Movement Science located at Horstmarer Landweg 50 in Münster. Starting date would be as soon as possible for a duration of 6-8 months.

Contact

If you are interested in this assignment and able to fulfil the assignment within the given time frame, please contact Rosemary Dubbeldam at r.dubbeldam@uni-muenster.de.