Metatarsal Loading During Gait—A Musculoskeletal Analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir A. Al-Munajjed ◽  
Jeffrey E. Bischoff ◽  
Mehul A. Dharia ◽  
Scott Telfer ◽  
James Woodburn ◽  
...  

Detailed knowledge of the loading conditions within the human body is essential for the development and optimization of treatments for disorders and injuries of the musculoskeletal system. While loads in the major joints of the lower limb have been the subject of extensive study, relatively little is known about the forces applied to the individual bones of the foot. The objective of this study was to use a detailed musculoskeletal model to compute the loads applied to the metatarsal bones during gait across several healthy subjects. Motion-captured gait trials and computed tomography (CT) foot scans from four healthy subjects were used as the inputs to inverse dynamic simulations that allowed the computation of loads at the metatarsal joints. Low loads in the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint were predicted before terminal stance, however, increased to an average peak of 1.9 times body weight (BW) before toe-off in the first metatarsal. At the first tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint, loads of up to 1.0 times BW were seen during the early part of stance, reflecting tension in the ligaments and muscles. These loads subsequently increased to an average peak of 3.0 times BW. Loads in the first ray were higher compared to rays 2–5. The joints were primarily loaded in the longitudinal direction of the bone.

1997 ◽  
Vol 41 (10) ◽  
pp. 2196-2200 ◽  
Author(s):  
L J Lee ◽  
B Hafkin ◽  
I D Lee ◽  
J Hoh ◽  
R Dix

The effects of food and sucralfate on the pharmacokinetics of levofloxacin following the administration of a single 500-mg oral dose were investigated in a randomized, three-way crossover study with young healthy subjects (12 males and 12 females). Levofloxacin was administered under three conditions: fasting, fed (immediately after a standardized high-fat breakfast), and fasting with sucralfate given 2 h following the administration of levofloxacin. The concentrations of levofloxacin in plasma and urine were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography. By noncompartmental methods, the maximum concentration of drug in serum (Cmax), the time to Cmax (Tmax), the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC), half-life (t1/2), clearance (CL/F), renal clearance (CLR), and cumulative amount of levofloxacin in urine (Ae) were estimated. The individual profiles of the drug concentration in plasma showed little difference among the three treatments. The only consistent effect of the coadministration of levofloxacin with a high-fat meal for most subjects was that levofloxacin absorption was delayed and Cmax was slightly reduced (Tmax, 1.0 and 2.0 h for fasting and fed conditions, respectively [P = 0.002]; Cmax, 5.9 +/- 1.3 and 5.1 +/- 0.9 microg/ml [90% confidence interval = 0.79 to 0.94] for fasting and fed conditions, respectively). Sucralfate, which was administered 2 h after the administration of levofloxacin, appeared to have no effect on levofloxacin's disposition compared with that under the fasting condition. Mean values of Cmax and AUC from time zero to infinity were 6.7 +/- 3.2 microg/ml and 47.9 +/- 8.4 microg x h/ml, respectively, following the administration of sucralfate compared to values of 5.9 +/- 1.3 microg/ml and 50.5 +/- 8.1 microg x h/ml, respectively, under fasting conditions. The mean t1/2, CL/F, CLR, and Ae values were similar among all three treatment groups. In conclusion, the absorption of levofloxacin was slightly delayed by food, although the overall bioavailability of levofloxacin following a high-fat meal was not altered. Finally, sucralfate did not alter the disposition of levofloxacin when sucralfate was given 2 h after the administration of the antibacterial agent, thus preventing a potential drug-drug interaction.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brock Laschowski ◽  
Reza Sharif Razavian ◽  
John McPhee

AbstractAlthough regenerative actuators can extend the operating durations of robotic lower-limb exoskeletons and prostheses, these energy-efficient powertrains have been exclusively designed and evaluated for continuous level-ground walking.ObjectiveHere we analyzed the lower-limb joint mechanical power during stand-to-sit movements using inverse dynamic simulations to estimate the biomechanical energy available for electrical regeneration.MethodsNine subjects performed 20 sitting and standing movements while lower-limb kinematics and ground reaction forces were measured. Subject-specific body segment parameters were estimated using parameter identification, whereby differences in ground reaction forces and moments between the experimental measurements and inverse dynamic simulations were minimized. Joint mechanical power was calculated from net joint torques and rotational velocities and numerically integrated over time to determine joint biomechanical energy.ResultsThe hip produced the largest peak negative mechanical power (1.8 ± 0.5 W/kg), followed by the knee (0.8 ± 0.3 W/kg) and ankle (0.2 ± 0.1 W/kg). Negative mechanical work from the hip, knee, and ankle joints per stand-to-sit movement were 0.35 ± 0.06 J/kg, 0.15 ± 0.08 J/kg, and 0.02 ± 0.01 J/kg, respectively.Conclusion and SignificanceAssuming an 80-kg person and previously published regenerative actuator efficiencies (i.e., maximum 63%), robotic lower-limb exoskeletons and prostheses could theoretically regenerate ~26 Joules of total electrical energy while sitting down, compared to ~19 Joules per walking stride. Given that these regeneration performance calculations are based on healthy young adults, future research should include seniors and/or rehabilitation patients to better estimate the biomechanical energy available for electrical regeneration among individuals with mobility impairments.


VLSI Design ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Soumya Pandit ◽  
Chittaranjan Mandal ◽  
Amit Patra

This paper presents a systematic methodology for the generation of high-level performance models for analog component blocks. The transistor sizes of the circuit-level implementations of the component blocks along with a set of geometry constraints applied over them define the sample space. A Halton sequence generator is used as a sampling algorithm. Performance data are generated by simulating each sampled circuit configuration through SPICE. Least squares support vector machine (LS-SVM) is used as a regression function. Optimal values of the model hyper parameters are determined through a grid search-based technique and a genetic algorithm- (GA-) based technique. The high-level models of the individual component blocks are combined analytically to construct the high-level model of a complete system. The constructed performance models have been used to implement a GA-based high-level topology sizing process. The advantages of the present methodology are that the constructed models are accurate with respect to real circuit-level simulation results, fast to evaluate, and have a good generalization ability. In addition, the model construction time is low and the construction process does not require any detailed knowledge of circuit design. The entire methodology has been demonstrated with a set of numerical results.


2002 ◽  
Vol 205 (12) ◽  
pp. 1683-1702 ◽  
Author(s):  
William J. Kargo ◽  
Frank Nelson ◽  
Lawrence C. Rome

SUMMARY Comparative musculoskeletal modeling represents a tool to understand better how motor system parameters are fine-tuned for specific behaviors. Frog jumping is a behavior in which the physical properties of the body and musculotendon actuators may have evolved specifically to extend the limits of performance. Little is known about how the joints of the frog contribute to and limit jumping performance. To address these issues, we developed a skeletal model of the frog Rana pipiens that contained realistic bones, joints and body-segment properties. We performed forward dynamic simulations of jumping to determine the minimal number of joint degrees of freedom required to produce maximal-distance jumps and to produce jumps of varied take-off angles. The forward dynamics of the models was driven with joint torque patterns determined from inverse dynamic analysis of jumping in experimental frogs. When the joints were constrained to rotate in the extension—flexion plane, the simulations produced short jumps with a fixed angle of take-off. We found that, to produce maximal-distance jumping,the skeletal system of the frog must minimally include a gimbal joint at the hip (three rotational degrees of freedom), a universal Hooke's joint at the knee (two rotational degrees of freedom) and pin joints at the ankle,tarsometatarsal, metatarsophalangeal and iliosacral joints (one rotational degree of freedom). One of the knee degrees of freedom represented a unique kinematic mechanism (internal rotation about the long axis of the tibiofibula)and played a crucial role in bringing the feet under the body so that maximal jump distances could be attained. Finally, the out-of-plane degrees of freedom were found to be essential to enable the frog to alter the angle of take-off and thereby permit flexible neuromotor control. The results of this study form a foundation upon which additional model subsystems (e.g. musculotendon and neural) can be added to test the integrative action of the neuromusculoskeletal system during frog jumping.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-58
Author(s):  
Nirju Ranjit ◽  
Bidur Adhikari ◽  
Rajani Shrestha ◽  
Anusuya Shrestha ◽  
Rosha Bhandari ◽  
...  

Introduction: Palm creases have been studied for a long time and have been recently found to be helpful in tracking underlying medical and genetic conditions. Scientific study and typing of palm prints have been found to be lacking in the Nepalese population Methods: A cross sectional study was done on 252 subjects, 153 male and 99 females, from Kathmandu, Nepal. Subjects were selected by purposive sampling from different age groups. Demographic profile including age, sex, and handedness was collected. Palm print pattern was recorded by digital photography. Each photograph was analysed visually by single observer and pattern of palm crease was noted. Variation of each crease was also noted. Results: On the basis of relation between radial longitudinal crease and proximal transverse crease, 17.3% subjects had open type of palm crease which was significantly more in females while 76.6% subjects had closed type crease which was significantly more in males. Meeting type of palm crease was found in 5.7% of subjects. On the basis of relation between proximal and distal transverse crease, normal crease type was found in 90.1% of subjects, Simian type was found in 7.7% subjects and Sydney type was found in 1.4% of subjects. The concordance of this pattern in left and right palms was found statistically significant. Conclusions: This study presented data from 252 seemingly normal healthy subjects and found that most of them had the normal with no branching, that is normal 1 and closed crease types. Most of the individual major creases were seen to be branched type.  


1992 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 340-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Godber S. Godbersen ◽  
Johannes Schneider-Littfeld ◽  
Jochen A. Werner ◽  
Sönke Wolters ◽  
Axel Pellner

The present study describes technical prerequisites for soft palate reflex measurements and first results. Reflex measurements can be done using standard electromyographic methods. The data-processing system that records and processes the electromyographic signals was activated when the soft palate was stimulated by a newly developed device. The first results of objective soft palate reflex measurements in 15 healthy subjects show that the musculus levator veli palatini reacts to a mechanical stimulation of the soft palate with a contraction that can be measured electromyographicslly. The response latencies were constant in the individual subjects. In 12 subjects a minimum of 30 ms and a maximum of 61 ms was recorded. In one healthy subject, the reflex was activated only after 167 ms. No reflex could be evoked in two subjects. The stimulus was always supraliminal. Reaction time was longer following surface anesthesia of the oral mucosa.


2013 ◽  
Vol 02 (04) ◽  
pp. 180-189
Author(s):  
Iqbal S.

Abstract Background and aims: The cerebral circulation is constantly maintained by the anastomotic circle of Willis which is often anomalous in more than 50% of the normal adult brains. These anomalies increase the risk of the stroke and transient ischemic attack in older patients. Adequate blood flow through the circle of Willis is often necessary to prevent these ischemic infarctions. The anomalies of cerebral vessels are directly related to the differential growth of various parts of the brain. A detailed knowledge of the individual measurements of the cerebral arteries is useful to neurosurgeon in planning the shunt operations and in the choice of their patients. The present study is aimed to analyze the average dimensions of the vessels at the base of brain and an attempt to explain the common form of variations in terms of embryological development. Materials and methods: Fifty adult cadaveric brains were obtained from routine cadaveric dissections. The base of the brain with the circle of Willis was fixed in 10% formalin and preserved. The circle was analyzed for variations in the size, length and number of the component vessels and any asymmetry in the configuration. The dimensions of the vessels forming the circle were measured using graduated calipers. The observations were recorded and tabulated. Results: Asymmetry was observed in 10% to 36% of the circles in this study. Anomalies were more common in the posterior than in the anterior part of the circle. The posterior anomalies included hypoplastic vessels, absent vessels and embryonic derivation while anterior anomalies were predominantly of accessory vessels. Middle cerebral artery exhibited the least variations. In majority of the circles, left sided vessels were larger in diameter than the right. Conclusions: Variations are more common in the posterior than in the anterior part of the circle and on the right than on the left side of the brain. There was no correlation between the variations of circle of Willis of the right side and the left cerebral dominance. There seems to be no difference between races, concerning the anatomic variations of the brain circulation.


Author(s):  
Antonio De Iorio ◽  
Marzio Grasso ◽  
Francesco Penta ◽  
Giovanni Pio Pucillo ◽  
Stefano Rossi ◽  
...  

In service, railway tracks must withstand the transverse and longitudinal forces that are caused by running vehicles and thermal loads. The mechanical design that adopts any of the track models available in the technical literature requires that the strength of the track is fully characterised. In this paper, the results of an experimental research activity on the sleeper–ballast resistance along the lateral and the longitudinal directions are reported and discussed. In particular, the work is aimed at identifying the strength contributions offered by the base, the ballast between the sleepers, and the ballast shoulder to the global resistance of the track in the horizontal plane. These quantities were experimentally determined by means of an ad hoc system designed by the authors. Field tests were carried out on a series of track sections that were built to simulate scenarios in which the ballast was removed from the crib and/or the shoulder. The results of this study indicate that the strength percent contributions from the crib, the sleeper base, and the shoulder are, respectively, equal to about 50%, 25%, and 25% in the lateral direction, and 60%, 30%, and 10% in the longitudinal direction. Moreover, the comparison of the acquired data with literature results reveals that a detailed knowledge about the testing conditions and the activated ballast failure mechanisms is needed in order to correctly use the test data for the design purpose.


2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (No. 6) ◽  
pp. 243-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Gryc ◽  
H. Vavrčík ◽  
P. Horáček

Wood is a hygroscopic material that is affected by shape changes. The aim of this study was to analyse the variability of wood swelling in the individual anatomic directions. Wood swelling was examined on a sample tree containing compression wood. With regard to the presence of compression wood, the sample tree was divided into the following three zones: the compression wood zone (CW), the opposite wood zone (OW), and two side wood zones (SWL and SWR). The results show that the wood containing compression wood swells less at the transverse plane (in the radial and tangential direction). Conversely, the swelling of compression wood in the longitudinal direction is higher. The same proportion was established in the swelling coefficient that grew proportionally to the increasing wood density in all anatomic directions. The proportion of compression wood manifested its effects in different ways. Transversely (in the radial and tangential direction) the swelling coefficient decreased proportionally to the increasing percentage of compression wood, longitudinally, however, the opposite was the case.


2004 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 48-58
Author(s):  
Milena Krasich

This test is designed with the assumption that product reliability is a combination of its individual reliabilities under various operational and environmental stresses and of the undetermined interaction among these stresses. A well-designed reliability test accounts for all cumulative operational and environmental exposures to the stresses that the product will encounter in field use. To determine the level and duration of each of the individual stresses to be applied in the test, it is assumed that the stresses are independent, and a separate factor is added to make up for any unknown stress interactions. The synergism or the test sequence is not disregarded, as it might be the factor contributing to lower demonstrated reliability. The individual stresses are accelerated to allow for reasonable and cost-effective test duration. This test design cannot be accomplished without detailed knowledge of the product's usage profile, sequence of operation, and expected use environments. The choice of test data analysis technique will depend on whether there were any test failures and on the type of failures. Where failures occur, acceleration factors are applied to determine the corresponding times to failure in field use. The test may be conducted as a reliability growth or a fixed duration test by applying the appropriate analytical techniques. The reliability growth technique may be preferred, as it normally yields tests of shorter duration. Accelerated reliability testing provides realistic lifetime reliability demonstration or validation and, if performed early enough, allows for design changes to improve product reliability. In designing any accelerated life test, caution should be exercised to avoid exceeding the environmental rating of the tested product, as high test acceleration can also induce failures that would normally not be expected to occur in the field life of the product. Also, acceleration factors must be carefully determined, preferably through accelerated testing to the failure mode of interest. Acceleration factors (their constants) may be different for different components of the tested products, thus care must be taken in their selection.


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