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Biomechanical link between sarcopenia and rotator cuff tears
Sarcopenia, age-related loss of muscle function, has been found associated with rotator cuff tears, In this project, shoulder biomechanics affected by degenerative changes will be studied with musculoskeletal model to investigate load sharing between various muscles, and between muscles and tendons.
Sarcopenia is a loss of muscle mass strength progressing with age, associated with decreased quality of life, increased morbidity and mortality. In a previous clinical observational study, a correlation between sarcopenia and rotator cuff tears (as well as their severity) was found. Sarcopenia is a systematic health problem, and therefore some of its factors can also be linked to the development of symptomatic chronic rotator cuff tears.
Beside biological factors though, it is likely that rotator cuff tears and sarcopenia are linked through biomechanical relationships. On one hand, the damage of rotator cuff tendons can lead to pain-avoidance and altered muscle recruitment during movement, causing weakening and atrophy of muscles that are utilized less than under healthy condition. On the other hand, changes in muscle function due to sarcopenia may alter shoulder biomechanics and cause possible overload of rotator cuff tendons, leading to microdamage accumulation and tear. In particular, the muscle function in sarcopenia deteriorates because of changes in muscle mass, tissue composition, contractile properties, and neuronal factors driving muscle activation. These changes affect muscle activation and how the load is shared between various muscles, and between muscles and tendons. Therefore, some of these changes may contribute to the development of rotator cuff tears.
In order to investigate the biomechanical link between sarcopenia and rotator cuff tears, a musculoskeletal modeling method will be used. Relevant characteristics of sarcopenia-related changes will be implemented in the muscle model, and simulations of basic tasks will reveal how the load is shared between anatomical structures in the shoulder, with or without sarcopenia present. The results will provide insights that can guide new rehabilitation and prevention strategies.
**Tasks:**
1. Literature review (30%)
2. Modeling work (60%)
3. Results analysis and report preparation (10%)
Sarcopenia is a loss of muscle mass strength progressing with age, associated with decreased quality of life, increased morbidity and mortality. In a previous clinical observational study, a correlation between sarcopenia and rotator cuff tears (as well as their severity) was found. Sarcopenia is a systematic health problem, and therefore some of its factors can also be linked to the development of symptomatic chronic rotator cuff tears.
Beside biological factors though, it is likely that rotator cuff tears and sarcopenia are linked through biomechanical relationships. On one hand, the damage of rotator cuff tendons can lead to pain-avoidance and altered muscle recruitment during movement, causing weakening and atrophy of muscles that are utilized less than under healthy condition. On the other hand, changes in muscle function due to sarcopenia may alter shoulder biomechanics and cause possible overload of rotator cuff tendons, leading to microdamage accumulation and tear. In particular, the muscle function in sarcopenia deteriorates because of changes in muscle mass, tissue composition, contractile properties, and neuronal factors driving muscle activation. These changes affect muscle activation and how the load is shared between various muscles, and between muscles and tendons. Therefore, some of these changes may contribute to the development of rotator cuff tears.
In order to investigate the biomechanical link between sarcopenia and rotator cuff tears, a musculoskeletal modeling method will be used. Relevant characteristics of sarcopenia-related changes will be implemented in the muscle model, and simulations of basic tasks will reveal how the load is shared between anatomical structures in the shoulder, with or without sarcopenia present. The results will provide insights that can guide new rehabilitation and prevention strategies.
**Tasks:**
1. Literature review (30%) 2. Modeling work (60%) 3. Results analysis and report preparation (10%)
The purpose of this project is to simulate various changes in properties of muscles and tendons affected by sarcopenia (e.g. mass, elasticity, contractile power), using a shoulder model in order to assess the impact of these changes on muscle recruitment patterns and tendon loading. The new sarcopenic muscle model will be compared to the previous simplistic model, providing better understanding which muscle properties are relevant when simulating effects of sarcopenia, which will inform future computational studies of this pathology.
The purpose of this project is to simulate various changes in properties of muscles and tendons affected by sarcopenia (e.g. mass, elasticity, contractile power), using a shoulder model in order to assess the impact of these changes on muscle recruitment patterns and tendon loading. The new sarcopenic muscle model will be compared to the previous simplistic model, providing better understanding which muscle properties are relevant when simulating effects of sarcopenia, which will inform future computational studies of this pathology.
Dr Dominika Ignasiak,
dominika.ignasiak@hest.ethz.ch
/ **Insititute for Biomechanics** / Professorship Stephen Ferguson
Dr Dominika Ignasiak, dominika.ignasiak@hest.ethz.ch / **Insititute for Biomechanics** / Professorship Stephen Ferguson