Abstract
A two-dimensional model of the normal foot skeleton, which includes cartilages and ligaments, is used in this analysis of stresses during three quasi-static walking phases: heel-strike, mid-stance and push-off. It is found that in all the walking phases the maximum values of principal stresses occur in the dorsal anterior region of the talus, whereas the highest stress occurs in the push-off phase. The model is used for the simulation of muscle paralysis and its effect on the distribution of principal stresses. Subsequently, the model is used to analyse stresses in the deformed feet of three leprosy patients with complete paralysis of certain muscles. The results demonstrate that both the shape of the foot and the type of muscle paralysis contribute to the development of high stresses in different regions of the foot. These high stresses in regions with reduced mechanical strength could be one of the important factors in the process of tarsal disintegration in leprosy.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Basmajian, J. V. (1978): ‘Muscles alive—their function revealed by electro-myography’ (Williams & Wilkins Co., Baltimore) pp. 247–277
Brown, T. D., Way, M. E., Fu, F. H., andFerguson, A. B. (1980): ‘Some growth related changes in the distribution of stress in the proximal juvenile femur’. Proc. Int. Conf. on Finite Elements in Biomechanics, Tucson, University of Arizona, USA, vol. 1, pp. 129–145
Calderale, P. M., andScelfo, G. (1987): ‘A mathematical model of the locomotor apparatus,’Eng. Med.,16, pp. 147–161
Kulkarni, V. N., Mehta, J. M., Sane, S. B., andSharangapani, R. C. (1985): ‘Study of tarsal disintegration in leprosy’. Proc. Int. Conf. on Biomechanics and Clinical Kinesiology of Hand and Foot, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, pp. 121–124
Inman, V. T., Ralston, H. J., andTodd, F. (1981): ‘Human walking’ (Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore)
Williams, P. L., Warwick, R., Dyson, M., andBannister, L. H. (Eds.): (1989) ‘Gray's anatomy’ (Churchill Livingstone New York) 37th edn.
Nakamura, S., Crownshield, R. D., andCooper, R. R. (1981): ‘An analysis of soft tissue loading in the foot—a preliminary report’,Bull. Prosthetic Res.,18, pp. 27–34
Patil, K. M., Braak, L. H., andHuson, A. (1993a): ‘Stresses in a simplified two dimensional model of a normal foot—a preliminary analysis,’Mech. Res. Commun.,20, (1), pp. 1–7
Patil, K. M., Braak, L. H., andHuson, A. (1993b): ‘A two dimensional model of a normal foot with cartilages and ligaments for stress analysis,’Innov. Tech. Biol. Med.,14, (2), pp. 152–162
Röhrl, H., Scholten, R., Sigolotto, C., andSollback., W. (1984): ‘Joint forces in the human pelvis-leg skeleton during walking,’J. Biomech.,17, (6), pp. 409–424
Schreppers, G. J. M. A., Sauren, A. A. H. J., andHuson, A. (1990): ‘A numerical model of the load transmission in the tibio-femoral contact area,’Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng.,204, pp. 53–59
Seireg, A., andArvikar, R. J. (1975): ‘The prediction of muscular load sharing and joint forces in the lower extremities during waling,’J. Biomech.,8, pp. 89–102
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Patil, K.M., Braak, L.H. & Huson, A. Analysis of stresses in two-dimensional models of normal and neuropathic feet. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 34, 280–284 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02511238
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02511238