Though all designed for the same essential function, human feet vary significantly in their structure between individuals. The most significant difference in foot structure is the arch, referring to the curve between the ball of your foot and the pad on your heel. The foot arch can range from a very high visible arch all the way to what is considered flat feet, with no visible arch and almost the entire sole of the foot making contact with the ground. This difference in structure changes the biomechanics of the foot, in turn changing the way we walk, run, jump, and complete any athletic feat. So how exactly do our arches play into athletic performance?
Continue reading “Arch Rivals: How the Biomechanics of Arched and Flat Feet Impact Athletics”Tag: walking
The 21,000 lb Question – How Elephants Defy Logic Through Locomotion
One of the most prominent questions in the engineering industry is how to build something that lasts. The biomechanics of elephant locomotion gives an example of near engineering perfection stemming from biology itself – with each foot supporting thousands of pounds of weight consistently and without failure while also maintaining mobility.
Read more: The 21,000 lb Question – How Elephants Defy Logic Through LocomotionThe Elephant in the Room
So how is this possible? The unique structure of an elephant’s foot allows for this gravity-defying phenomenon to become a reality. An elephant’s foot is made up of several different structures and materials that work together to distribute the loading caused by the elephant’s impressive weight. The main components include the lower limb/foot bones themselves, elastic and collagen fibers, adipose tissues, predigits, and perhaps most importantly, cushions of fat expanding the bottom part of the foot.
Taking it Step by Step
Elephants are extremely heavy and wide-roaming creatures. They are almost constantly on their feet, and therefore need a suspension system that is long-lasting and withstanding of tremendous loads. Unlike human feet where the bones are articulated almost exactly how you might expect by viewing them externally, elephant bones are actually pointed in a tip-toed formation, with fatty pads acting as cushions around the skeletal elements. Walking on their tiptoes allows for gravitational forces to be spread out through the thick layer of padding under each bone and also reduces stress on the rest of the structural system within the elephant’s body. Also conversely to humans, elephants have a “sixth toe,” or a predigit, which aids in the elephant’s movement as well. These toes were discovered in 1706, when a Scottish surgeon dissected an elephant for the first time in record. Analysis of fossils belonging to elephant ancestors show that this sixth toe evolved around 40 million years ago as elephants expanded in size and became land based. This predigit starts as a piece of cartilage, but gradually hardens to bone as the animal grows in size and weight. Its purpose is to support the heel of the fat pad – further helping with suspension and aiding in stabilization.
Getting Into the Meat of the Issue
Arguably the most important piece of the elephant foot in terms of failure prevention is the cushions of fat upon which the inner structure of the elephant rests. Designed to absorb and distribute mechanical forces – these dynamic tissues operate in a system of compression and tension in order to minimize harmful stresses to any one part of the elephant’s body. As the elephant places weight on one of their feet, the adipose tissues in the fat pads compress and spread out in order to maximize force dispersion. Collagen fibers and elastic fibrous connective tissues also within these cushions are pulled in tension – resisting the lateral deformation which has a stiffening effect. This stiffening effect helps to limit deformation of the tissue which prevents failure/injury due to heavy loading in the foot. These fat pads can expand up to a whopping 20% – effectively protecting even the outermost parts of the elephant’s foot. This process is similar to pressing down on a memory foam pillow – as you lower your hand the pillow compresses and spreads out to absorb the impact, but as you lift your hand and remove the weight, the pillow goes back to its original shape, ready to be compressed again.
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Balancing the Load: Understanding Pressure Distribution in Prosthetic Sockets
How do pressure profiles and shear stresses in prosthetic sockets affect prosthesis user comfort? For prosthesis users, comfort is essential for mobility, quality of life, and long-term health. The fit and alignment of a prosthesis are highly individualized and crucial for instilling confidence in daily activities. However, current prosthesis fittings are largely subjective, depending on the prosthetist’s experience and user feedback. This qualitative method often overlooks the critical factor of pressure distribution within the socket, which can significantly impact pain levels and ease of movement.
Read more: Balancing the Load: Understanding Pressure Distribution in Prosthetic Sockets Continue reading “Balancing the Load: Understanding Pressure Distribution in Prosthetic Sockets”How is Biomechanics Used in the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease with 90,000 Americans being diagnosed every year. Parkinson’s is a difficult disease to detect; there are no blood or lab test to diagnosis it. Diagnoses are symptom based. Parkinson’s patients often do not know they have the disease until after having dealt with it for years. Some of the early symptoms such as facial masking (lack of facial expression), small handwriting, or speaking softly do not directly point to a Parkinson’s disease diagnoses. A patient comes in with tremors, muscle rigidity, poor balance, and slowed movements and are then assumed to have Parkinson’s disease. If their symptoms improve with medication, the diagnosis is confirmed. Biomechanics is a useful tool in the evaluation of the progression of the disease as well as its continued treatment.
Continue reading “How is Biomechanics Used in the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease?”Footsteps and Force-Waves: New Methods of Measuring Lymphedema
The lymphatic system is a system of vessels and lymph nodes that runs parallel to our vascular system. It takes up extra fluid from around our cells, filters it, and returns the liquid to our circulatory system. When part of the lymphatic system is damaged by surgery, radiation treatments, or injury, a progressive disease called lymphedema can occur.
Continue reading “Footsteps and Force-Waves: New Methods of Measuring Lymphedema”Too Tall to Run: How a Giraffes Height Affects their Locomotion
Seeing a giraffe for the first time, one is amazed by their long necks and long legs, but do you ever wonder how their long skinny legs can support their large body mass as they move about? Studies have shown that a giraffe’s legs undergo a large ground reaction force when walking freely and an even larger ground reaction force when moving at a faster speed than walking.
Continue reading “Too Tall to Run: How a Giraffes Height Affects their Locomotion”Do your Foot Arches make you more or less likely to be injured?
Have you ever wondered how your arch type may affect your everyday life especially in physical activities such as running or playing sports? Well it turns out that without taking precautions, a higher arch or a flat foot may cause you to more likely be injured! People have all different types of arches, and each foot can be affected differently based on the type of arch.
Continue reading “Do your Foot Arches make you more or less likely to be injured?”Have you ever wondered how your arch type may affect your everyday life especially in physical activities such as running or playing sports? Well it turns out that without taking precautions, a higher arch or a flat foot may cause you to more likely be injured! People have all different types of arches, and each foot can be affected differently based on the type of arch.
Continue reading “Do your Foot Arches make you more or less likely to be injured?”Ditching the shoes: Minimalist trend or natural advantage?
The discussion of returning to minimalist ways, namely walking or running barefoot, is a question that rises in many circles, from new parents to elite runners.
Continue reading “Ditching the shoes: Minimalist trend or natural advantage?”The Weight of Combat: Are powered exoskeletons the solution to heavy combat loads?
Have you ever wondered how much weight a soldier carries in a combat zone?
Continue reading “The Weight of Combat: Are powered exoskeletons the solution to heavy combat loads?”Put One Foot in Front of the Other? It’s Not that Easy
From Christmas movies to pop songs to motivational posters, we are encouraged to keep putting “one foot in front of the other.” While the sentiment is inspiring, recent studies show that there is a lot more to the seemingly simple task of walking than this phrase would suggest. Understanding this is especially important for balance and mobility after an injury or as people age.
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