The effect of variability in body segment parameters on joint moment using Monte Carlo simulations

- Mean body segment parameters vary significantly between different groups.
- Body segment parameters variation between groups has little effect on joint torques.
- In walking, body segment parameters have little effect on joint moments.
- Distal body segment parameters have little effect on proximal joint moment.

This study used Monte Carlo methods to simulate the effects of variability and uncertainty in inertial body segment parameters (BSPs) on joint torques calculated using inverse dynamics. The average and standard deviation values of BSPs from previously published studies were used as inputs into the Monte Carlo simulation. Data from five groups were evaluated: cadaveric subjects; living subjects (Caucasian only); female living subjects (Caucasian only); male living subjects (Caucasian only); and living subjects (non-Caucasian). The differences in BSPs observed between the different groups were statistically significant; however, using BSP variability data from these groups made little difference to the calculated joint torques. This suggests that for slow and repeatable movement such as walking, BSPs have little effect on joint moments, except for the swing phase. Even then, the magnitude of difference in the swing phase due to variability in BSPs is not much greater than the inter-trial variability. As expected, distal BSPs have little effect on proximal joint moment.