Slavens Brooke A, Guan Yabo, Harris Gerald F
Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Engineering Center, O.R.E.C., Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2009;2009:5271-73. doi: 10.1109/IEMBS.2009.5334082.
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).
本文介绍了一款儿童商用前臂拐杖在步态过程中的有限元分析。获取了拐杖结构的几何特征并进行建模。基于框架表面使用壳单元创建了有限元模型。采用了铝合金的线弹性材料特性。将来自往复步态和摆动通过步态模式的上肢动力学数据作为边界条件和载荷应用于模型。确定了两种步态模式下的应力分布。结果发现，摆动通过步态期间的应力分布在统计学上大于往复步态期间的应力分布（p = 0.01）。这项工作提供了新的定量数据，以改进拐杖设计，并促进对脊髓脊膜膨出（脊柱裂）儿童在前臂拐杖辅助步态期间上肢关节负荷的进一步分析。
