Elaborate Experimentation for Mechanical Characterization of Human Foot Using Inverse Finite Element Analysis

The foot is the part of the body which interacts with the environment more than any other part. Foot pathologies are common; therefore, knowledge of the mechanical properties of the human foot is essential for treatment and prevention. Although existing experimental procedures are useful in measuring material properties associated with the foot, they are not complete because of their one dimensional nature. To understand the multi-dimensional nature of the foot, complex loading procedures were implemented on the foot including compression and shear loads. Results from these tests were used to create a multi-dimensional elaborate data set. This elaborate data set was then used along with the inverse finite element technique to estimate the material properties of the heel pad and the passive joint stiffness of the foot. Inverse finite element was found to be an efficient tool for an elaborate data set. However certain material properties obtained may be incorrect because of the limitations of the study that were identified. The complete data set along with the simulation methods and results for the property identification are provided.

Year	Entry
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Year

Entry

2004

Fauth AR, Hamel AJ, Sharkey NA. In vitro measurements of first and second tarsometatarsal joint stiffness. J Appl Biomech. 2004;20(1):14-24.

2005

Erdemir A, Saucerman JJ, Lemmon D, Loppnow B, Turso B, Ulbrecht JS, Cavanagh PR. Local plantar pressure relief in therapeutic footwear: design guidelines from finite element models. J Biomech. September 2005;38(9):1798-1806.

2006

Erdemir A, Viveiros ML, Ulbrecht JS, Cavanagh PR. An inverse finite-element model of heel-pad indentation. J Biomech. 2006;39(7):1279-1286.

2000

Hsu T-C, Wang C-L, Shau Y-W, Tang F-T, Li K-L, Chen C-Y. Altered heel-pad mechanical properties in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetic Med. December 2000;17(12):854-859.

2005

Cheung JT-M, Zhang M, Leung AK-L, Fan Y-B. Three-dimensional finite element analysis of the foot during standing: a material sensitivity study. J Biomech. May 2005;38(5):1045-1054.