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Full-Text Articles in Biomechanics and Biotransport

Foot And Ankle Exoskeleton, Janet M. Velasquez Cabral, Kathryn C. Hamilton, Grant R. Lautze Jun 2024

Foot And Ankle Exoskeleton, Janet M. Velasquez Cabral, Kathryn C. Hamilton, Grant R. Lautze

Biomedical Engineering

This paper presents a non-motorized foot and ankle exoskeleton to assist persons who have no lower limb or abdominal function. Exoskeletons are defined as “an artificial external supporting structure” [1], they are wearable devices that can be used to assist the capabilities of the human body. Although the exoskeleton must be used with crutches, plantarflexion and dorsiflexion will be implemented within the ankle joint to alleviate strain on the foot and ankle, strategically designed in a way that supports the user so their walking performance is as ideal as possible. Additionally, safety straps will be integrated into the foot portion …


Do Different Pathologies Affect The Relationship Between The Stiffness Of The Plantar Fascia And The Function Of The Mtp Joint?, Madeline Ryan Pauley Aug 2020

Do Different Pathologies Affect The Relationship Between The Stiffness Of The Plantar Fascia And The Function Of The Mtp Joint?, Madeline Ryan Pauley

Biomedical Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Compared to healthy individuals, individuals with plantar fasciitis and diabetes experience material and structural property changes to soft tissues in the feet. The purpose of this study was to compare the relationship between material properties, power absorption, and energy storage characteristics to metatarsal power between healthy, plantar fasciitis symptomatic and asymptomatic, and diabetic participants. Investigating material change differences as well as energy storage and transfer trends in different pathology groups can lead to a better overall understanding of power transfer at the metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP). Participants were recruited for kinematic gait analysis and lower extremity shear wave elastography analysis and …


Prosthetic Foot/Ankle Inversion & Eversion Enhancement, Jason Wiebrecht, Maddison Grimes Jan 2020

Prosthetic Foot/Ankle Inversion & Eversion Enhancement, Jason Wiebrecht, Maddison Grimes

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Modify a prosthetic foot/ankle, that currently has power at the ankle joint, for dorsiflexion/flexion so that it supplies power across a simulated subtalar joint, making the joint capable of inversion/eversion.


Estimation Of Multi-Directional Ankle Impedance As A Function Of Lower Extremity Muscle Activation, Lauren Knop Jan 2019

Estimation Of Multi-Directional Ankle Impedance As A Function Of Lower Extremity Muscle Activation, Lauren Knop

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The purpose of this research is to investigate the relationship between the mechanical impedance of the human ankle and the corresponding lower extremity muscle activity. Three experimental studies were performed to measure the ankle impedance about multiple degrees of freedom (DOF), while the ankle was subjected to different loading conditions and different levels of muscle activity. The first study determined the non-loaded ankle impedance in the sagittal, frontal, and transverse anatomical planes while the ankle was suspended above the ground. The subjects actively co-contracted their agonist and antagonistic muscles to various levels, measured using electromyography (EMG). An Artificial Neural Network …


Effects Of Stride Length On Lower Limb Stiffness When Running With Body Borne Load, Nick Lobb May 2018

Effects Of Stride Length On Lower Limb Stiffness When Running With Body Borne Load, Nick Lobb

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: During military activities, soldiers are often required to run at a fixed cadence with body borne load, but these loads purportedly increase leg stiffness, leading to increased risk of musculoskeletal injury. Yet, to date, it is unknown how altering stride length when running with body borne load affects lower limb stiffness for males and females. Purpose: To quantify leg stiffness, and lower limb joint (hip, knee and ankle) stiffness for males and females using different stride lengths to run with body borne loads of 20 kg, 25 kg, 30 kg, and 35 kg. Methods: Twenty-seven (17 males and 10 …


The Effects Of Fatigue On Lower Extremity Kinetics And Kinematics In Subjects With Known Ankle Instability, Lindsay E. Clayton Jan 2015

The Effects Of Fatigue On Lower Extremity Kinetics And Kinematics In Subjects With Known Ankle Instability, Lindsay E. Clayton

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study was to evaluate biomechanical differences between healthy subjects and those with ankle instability during the gradual onset of lower extremity fatigue from a landing activity. An understanding of these differences is needed in order to prevent future injury to or further debilitation in individuals with ankle instability. A functional fatiguing activity was designed to focus fatigue on the quadriceps muscles, as those are the muscles most frequently fatigued during sport. Measures were taken throughout the progression of fatigue with a force plate and a motion tracking system and included vertical ground reaction force and lower …


Evaluation Of The Anterior Talofibular And Calcaneofibular Ligament In Relation To Supination Ankle Sprains, Peter Tran Jun 2013

Evaluation Of The Anterior Talofibular And Calcaneofibular Ligament In Relation To Supination Ankle Sprains, Peter Tran

Biomedical Engineering

Ankle injuries have always posed an issue to a number of athletes. Sports that involve running and jumping accumulate about 25% of injuries correlating to ankle sprains. In most ankle sprains the inversion (supination) of the ankle cause damage to lateral ligaments. The two most common lateral ligaments to experience damage are the anterior talofibular (ATFL) and calcaneofibular (CFL) ligaments. The methods of taping and ankle braces have allowed athletes to prevent recurring sprains from occurring. However, sprains can still occur even when one or both methods are applied. The purpose of each method is to restrict the range of …