Musculoskeletal research is pivotal in understanding the structural dynamics, movement, and adaptability of our bodies, particularly when subjected to mechanical forces across a wide range of contexts, including sport, daily living, rehabilitation, and clinical conditions. The intricate architecture of bones, joints, and soft tissues presents ongoing challenges in modelling and translation to real-world applications. Recent advances in digital modelling, data integration, and additive manufacturing have significantly enhanced our ability to investigate and optimise musculoskeletal function. Central to this progress is the concept of engineering twins and triplets, which integrate a real biological system with its computational counterpart (digital twin), and, in the case of triplets, a 3D-printed physical model. This combined framework enables comprehensive investigation through simulation, experimental validation, and mechanical testing. While digital twin approaches offer significant potential for scalable modelling and clinical translation, engineering triplets provide a powerful platform for physical validation.
This Research Topic aims to explore the applications of engineering twins and triplets in addressing key challenges in musculoskeletal biomechanics across diverse populations and settings. By integrating clinical or experimental data with computational modelling and, where applicable, physical prototyping, these approaches support the development of personalised and multi-scale representations of musculoskeletal systems. This framework has the potential to transform biomechanical assessment, improve understanding of injury, adaptation, and recovery mechanisms, and enable the design of targeted interventions, devices, and treatments.
We particularly encourage submissions that extend beyond traditional sports biomechanics and address broader applications, including health, design of implants, product development, trauma management and rehabilitation. Contributions that combine experimental data, modelling, statistical modelling, and (where appropriate) 3D printing approaches are especially welcomed.
To gather further insights in the domain of biomechanics using engineering twins and triplets, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes: • Development and validation of musculoskeletal models (single- and multi-scale) using twin or triplet frameworks • Integration of clinical, experimental, and imaging data within digital twin or triplet workflows • Applications in healthy ageing (e.g. Activities of Daily Living (ADL), mobility, and biomechanics in ageing populations) • Musculoskeletal development in childhood (e.g. cerebral palsy, flatfoot, clubfoot, and surgical interventions linked to biomechanical outcomes) • Rehabilitation applications (e.g. stroke, cerebral palsy, sports injuries, trauma recovery) • Safety and risk factors in biomechanics (e.g. injury mechanisms, fracture risk, falls, and protective strategies) • Personalised approaches to device design, orthopaedics, and protective equipment linked to biomechanical outcomes • Use of 3D printing for validation, prototyping, and translational applications within twin/triplet frameworks • Application of engineering twins or triplets’ methodology for trauma analysis in sports or accidents and in the forensic or medicolegal field.
Collaborations among engineers, clinicians, sports scientists, and multidisciplinary researchers are strongly encouraged.
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Brief Research Report
Case Report
Data Report
Editorial
FAIR² Data
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
Methods
Mini Review
Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.
Article types
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
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.
