--- a
+++ b/MATLAB_tool/MuscleParOptTool/getParentBodyJoint.m
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+% functon to return the name of the joint from a specified model and joint
+% structure ( generatate using getModelJointDefinitions.m ) , where the
+% specified body is the parent body
+
+% Written by Bryce Killen bryce.killen@kuleuven.be as part of an extension
+% of work by Luca Modenese in the parameterisation of muscle tendon
+% properties 
+
+
+% Input: OpenSim model objects
+% Output: jointName - the joint where the specified body is the parent
+
+function jointName = getParentBodyJoint(jointStructure, bodyName)
+
+    % return a list of the joints
+    allJoints = fieldnames(jointStructure);
+    
+    % loop through joints to check the child body entry and return if true
+    % NOTE: inefficient but will work temp.
+    
+    for j = 1:length(allJoints)
+        if strcmp(jointStructure.(char(allJoints(j))).parentBody , bodyName)
+           jointName = char(allJoints(j));
+           return
+        end  
+    end
+end
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