Quantification of vertical free moment induced by the human foot–ankle complex during axial loading

Axial loading of the human cadaver lower leg is known to generate eversion of the calcaneus and internal rotation of the tibia if the plantar surface of the foot does not slide on the floor. Such kinematic coupling between calcaneal eversion and internal tibial rotation has been described previously...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part H, Journal of engineering in medicine Journal of engineering in medicine, 2018-06, Vol.232 (6), p.637-640
Main Authors: Seki, Hiroyuki, Nagura, Takeo, Suda, Yasunori, Ogihara, Naomichi, Ito, Kohta, Niki, Yasuo, Matsumoto, Morio, Nakamura, Masaya
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged, 80 and over
Ankle
Ankle - physiology
Axial loads
Biomechanical Phenomena
Cadavers
Calcaneus
Feet
Female
Foot - physiology
Force plates
Human performance
Humans
Knee
Leg
Male
Materials Testing
Plates (structural members)
Rotation
Tibia
Vertical forces
Walking
Weight-Bearing
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Summary:Axial loading of the human cadaver lower leg is known to generate eversion of the calcaneus and internal rotation of the tibia if the plantar surface of the foot does not slide on the floor. Such kinematic coupling between calcaneal eversion and internal tibial rotation has been described previously, but no studies have actually quantified the innate ability of the human foot to generate ground reaction moment around the vertical axis of the floor (vertical free moment) due to axial loading of the human cadaver lower leg. This study investigated the vertical free moment generated by eight cadaveric lower leg specimens loaded vertically with traction of the Achilles’ tendon using a six-component force plate. The vertical free moments in all specimens were oriented toward the direction of internal rotation, and the mean magnitude of the vertical free moments was −1.66 N m when an axial load of 450 N was applied. A relatively large ground reaction moment can be applied to the body during walking due to the innate structural mobility of the foot. The structurally embedded capacity of the human foot to generate the vertical free moment may facilitate compensation of the moment generated around the vertical axis of the body during walking due to trunk rotation and leg swing.
ISSN:0954-4119
2041-3033
DOI:10.1177/0954411918777267