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Biomechanics Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Biomechanics

Use Of Pressure-Measuring Insoles To Characterize Gait Parameters In Simulated Reduced-Gravity Conditions, Christian Ison, Connor Neilsen, Jessica Deberardinis, Mohamed B. Trabia, Janet S. Dufek Sep 2021

Use Of Pressure-Measuring Insoles To Characterize Gait Parameters In Simulated Reduced-Gravity Conditions, Christian Ison, Connor Neilsen, Jessica Deberardinis, Mohamed B. Trabia, Janet S. Dufek

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research

Prior researchers have observed the effect of simulated reduced-gravity exercise. However, the extent to which lower-body positive-pressure treadmill (LBPPT) walking alters kinematic gait characteristics is not well understood. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of LBPPT walking on selected gait parameters in simulated reduced-gravity conditions. Twenty-nine college-aged volunteers participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants wore pressure-measuring insoles (Medilogic GmBH, Schönefeld, Germany) and completed three 3.5-min walking trials on the LBPPT (AlterG, Inc., Fremont, CA, USA) at 100% (normal gravity) as well as reduced-gravity conditions of 40% and 20% body weight (BW). The resulting insole data were …


Patient-Specific Finite Element Analysis For Mandibular Fracture Fixation, Ethan Snyder May 2021

Patient-Specific Finite Element Analysis For Mandibular Fracture Fixation, Ethan Snyder

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This thesis proposes an approach for Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of mandibular fracture fixation. Using a Computerized Tomography (CT) scan of mandible obtained from a specific person, the material characteristics, density and modulus of elasticity, were determined from a set of discrete points within the mandible that are 1mm spaced based on the Hounsfield Units of these points. The mandible geometry was sectioned to simulate a fracture. Muscle and mastication forces were added to replicate post-surgery loading. Using a standard linear miniplate, this material model was compared with two commonly used mandibular cortical shell bone models: isotropic and orthotropic. A …


Foot Contact Dynamics And Fall Risk Among Children Diagnosed With Idiopathic Toe Walking, Rahul Soangra, Michael Shiraishi, Richard Beuttler, Michelle Gwerder, Lou Anne Boyd, Venkatesan Muthukumar, Mohamed Trabia, Afshin Aminian, Marybeth Grant-Beuttler Mar 2021

Foot Contact Dynamics And Fall Risk Among Children Diagnosed With Idiopathic Toe Walking, Rahul Soangra, Michael Shiraishi, Richard Beuttler, Michelle Gwerder, Lou Anne Boyd, Venkatesan Muthukumar, Mohamed Trabia, Afshin Aminian, Marybeth Grant-Beuttler

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Research

Children that are diagnosed with Idiopathic Toe walking (cITW) are characterized by persistent toe-to-toe contacts. The objective of this study was to explore whether typical foot contact dynamics during walking predisposes cITW to a higher risk of falling. Twenty cITW and age-matched controls performed typical and toe walking trials. The gait parameters related to foot contact dynamics, vertical force impulses during stance, slip, and trip risk were compared for both groups. We found that cITW manifest less stable gait and produced significantly higher force impulses during push-off. Additionally, we found that cITW had a higher slip-initiation risk that was associated …