Faculty Collaboration Database

Finite element analysis of forearm crutches during gait in children with myelomeningocele. Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2009;2009:5271-73

Date

12/08/2009

Pubmed ID

19964665

DOI

10.1109/IEMBS.2009.5334082

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-77950987528 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   1 Citation

Abstract

A finite element analysis of a commercial forearm crutch for children during gait is presented. The geometric features of the crutch structure were acquired and modeled. The finite element model was created using shell elements based on the frame surfaces. Linear elastic material properties for aluminum alloy were utilized. Upper extremity kinetic data from reciprocal and swing-through gait patterns were applied to the model as boundary conditions and loads. Stress distributions during two gait patterns were determined. Stress distributions during swing-through gait were found to be statistically greater than those during reciprocal gait (p = 0.01). This work provides novel quantitative data to improve crutch design and stimulate further analyses of upper extremity joint loads during forearm crutch-assisted gait in children with myelomeningocele (spina bifida).

Author List

Slavens BA, Guan Y, Harris GF

Authors

Gerald Harris PhD Director in the Orthopaedic Research Engineering Center (OREC) department at Marquette University
Brooke Slavens BS,MS,PhD Professor in the Mechanical Engineering department at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Biomechanical Phenomena
Child
Crutches
Finite Element Analysis
Forearm
Gait
Humans
Meningomyelocele
Stress, Mechanical
Weight-Bearing