Finite Element Analysis of a Novel Approach for Knee and Ankle Protection during Landing

Applied Sciences

Da Lu¹  Peiyan He¹  Xueqing Wu¹  Wei Wang¹  Lei Guo¹  Baoqing Pei¹ 

[1] School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China;

关键词: landing;    double-joint brace;    finite element analysis;    ankle;    knee;   

DOI  :  10.3390/app11041912

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

There is a high risk of serious injury to the lower extremities during a human drop landing. Prophylactic knee and ankle braces are commonly used to reduce injury by restraining the motion of joints. However, braces that restrain joint range of motion (ROM) may have detrimental effects on the user’s kinematical performance and joint function. The present study aimed to propose a novel set of double-joint braces and to evaluate its protective performance in terms of the ankle and knee. Accordingly, the finite element method was performed to investigate the biomechanical responses of the ankle and knee in braced and unbraced conditions. The results showed that the semi-rigid support at the ankle joint can share the high impact force that would otherwise be inflicted on one’s lower extremity, thereby reducing the peak stress on the inferior articular surface of the tibia, menisci, and articular cartilages, as well as the horizontal force on the talus. Moreover, with knee bending, the elongated spring component at the knee joint can convert the impact kinetic energy into elastic potential energy of the spring; meanwhile, the retractive force generated by the spring also provides a more balanced interaction between the menisci and articular cartilages. This biomechanical analysis can accordingly provide inspiration for new approaches to place human lower extremities at lower risk during landings.

【 授权许可】

Unknown