In-vivo viscous properties of the heel pad by stress-relaxation experiment based on a spherical indentation

The cushioning material properties of the plantar soft tissue determine the energy dissipation that occurs in the collision between the foot and the ground during human locomotion [1,2]. Clarifying the viscous properties of the plantar soft tissue is therefore crucial for improving our understanding of the dynamic interaction of the foot with the ground during efficient locomotion [3], producing improved footwear products and orthoses [4,5], and studying therapeutic footwear interventions [6]. Quantification of the viscoelastic material properties of the plantar soft tissue is particularly important for developing computational models to investigate the dynamic interaction of the foot with the ground [7,8], and improving our understanding of muscle activity, joint loading, and vibration of a wobbling mass during the impact phase of locomotion [9].
Source: Medical Engineering and Physics - Category: Biomedical Engineering Authors: Source Type: research