Presentations 1/2 from the Healthcare Technologies Student and Early Career Awards 2026

How do anatomical differences between individuals affect cervical spine biomechanics? In this webinar, we explore research into the impact of subject-specific anatomy on muscle moment arms in the cervical spine. Using CT image data and musculoskeletal modelling in OpenSim, the project compares subject-specific cervical spine models with traditionally scaled generic models to assess how anatomical variation influences biomechanical predictions. The presentation covers: The biomechanics of the cervical spine and its importance in neck health Challenges of using generic musculoskeletal models Development of subject-specific cervical spine models from CT scans Segmentation of cervical vertebrae and muscle structures Comparison of muscle moment arms across different spinal movements The potential role of computational modelling in understanding, preventing, and managing neck-related conditions This research highlights the value of incorporating individual anatomical differences into musculoskeletal models and demonstrates a workflow that could support future population-level studies of cervical spine health and pathology. 00 :00 :00 – Chris Hudson, University of Southampton 00:26:05 – Vikas Huraliganganahalli Balaramegowda, University of Swansea 00:43:20 - Ekgari Kasawala, Aston University 01:08:10 – Yanni Cai, Cranfield University