Related Experiment Videos
Changes in foot loading following plantar fasciotomy: a computer modeling study
Ahmet Erdemir1, Stephen J Piazza
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Journal of Biomechanical Engineering
|June 8, 2004
Summary
Simulating toe-rise after plantar fasciotomy reveals increased arch torque and metatarsal forces. This may explain complications in patients undergoing surgery for heel pain.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Computational Modeling
Background:
- Plantar fasciotomy is a common surgery for heel pain.
- Understanding surgical outcomes requires biomechanical analysis.
- Dynamic simulations can model complex musculoskeletal tasks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a forward dynamic simulation of the toe-rise task.
- To investigate the biomechanical effects of simulated plantar fasciotomy.
- To explore potential mechanisms for post-surgical complications.
Main Methods:
- Developed a forward dynamic musculoskeletal model.
- Simulated the toe-rise movement in a healthy state and post-plantar fasciotomy.
- Validated model predictions against experimental data from healthy subjects.
Main Results:
- The simulation accurately predicted ground reaction forces and pelvic kinematics.
- Simulated plantar fasciotomy increased passive arch torques by 7.4%.
- Metatarsal head contact forces rose by 18%, with increased toe flexor activity.
Conclusions:
- Dynamic simulations can effectively model the biomechanics of the toe-rise task.
- Plantar fasciotomy may lead to altered foot loading and increased stress on other structures.
- These findings offer insights into the mechanisms underlying plantar fasciotomy complications.