About this Research Topic

Background

Coordinated motor function in humans is characterized by a complex interplay between neuromuscular and musculoskeletal elements. Within the field of neuromechanics, neuroscience (e.g. assessment of neural control mechanisms via neuro-imaging or neuro-physiology), biomechanics (e.g. architectural muscle physiology, kinematic, kinetic characteristics), physiology (i.e. biomarker research, in vivo bio-imagery) and computational mathematical approaches (e.g. simulation, humanoid robotics, bionics) are integrated and combined in order to contribute to a better understanding of human movement and physiology. In this context, neuromechanics is not only limited to studying movement control and motor learning, underlying neural pathways and sensorimotor strategies in healthy individuals, but also helps to explain motor deficits in clinically relevant areas with reference to diseases and injuries. Life-science-based technologies and therapeutic approaches result from experimental data and computational models leading to research-driven perspectives and innovations of major significance.

To date, systematic evidence and article collections are still scarce regarding the methodology and underlying paradigms of coordinated sensorimotor control, as well as interventions and technologies to restore motor function, rehabilitation or optimize movement economy or physiological processes.

The present Research Topic aims to generate high-level evidence in the field of neuromechanics in movement and disease. The objective behind this Research Topic is to overcome conventional boundaries in order to fuse physiology, neuroscience and biomechanics, emphasizing the interaction between brain and executive systems to produce adequate motor behavior in humans. On this basis, we encourage authors to submit original articles, reviews or data reports which help to shed light on how movement can be explained on a neuromechanical basis or improved in healthy individuals or patients. The understanding of underlying mechanisms coupled with bio-inspired application technologies will further empower us to revisit current approaches to the design and control of robotic systems to produce human-like physical behavior or feasible applications in clinical or therapeutic environments. Given the high relevance of this topic, we intend to provide fundamental practical applications to clinicians as well as exercise scientists.

Due to recent technological and methodological advances in the past years (e.g. non-invasive assessment of motor unit functioning, neuro-imaging or innovation in biomechanical approaches), potential topics may include evidence-based articles to explain how the brain, the spinal cord, sense organs and skeletal muscles interact in order to execute efficient and coordinated movements. Contributions in the field of functional adaptations, simulations and robotics are also welcome. This Research Topic is therefore poised at an opportune moment to promote understanding of apparently disparate topics and trans-disciplinarity into a coherent focus on physiological and pathophysiological changes including (but not limited to):
• Association between motor neural circuitry and biomechanical determinants
• System identification of neuro-muscular-mechanical parameters
• Muscle synergies of neural and biomechanical origin to explain movement and disease
• Relevance of efferent and afferent neuromuscular pathways for healthy people and patients
• Neuromechanical models for rehabilitation and patients with motor disorders and orthopedic deficits
• functional adaptations in biomechanical or neurophysiological parameters in intervention studies (RCTs)
• Methodological advances in neuromechanical assessments of movement in physiological and pathophysiological conditions
• Computational and systems modeling of neuromuscular control

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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