Force Transmission Mode of Foot Ankle in Children with Down’s Syndrome During Standing / 医用生物力学

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the joint contact force, ligament tensile force and force transmission mode of foot internal structure in Down’s syndrome child (DSC) during standing. Methods The finite element models of foot were constructed based on CT image data from one DSC and one typically developing child (TDC). The models were validated by plantar pressure measurement during static standing. To simulate foot force during standing, the ground reaction force and the triceps surae force were applied as the loading condition. Contact pressure of the tibiotalar, talonavicular and calcaneocuboid joints, tensile force of the spring and plantar calcaneocuboid ligaments, and force transmission mode in transverse tarsal joints were calculated and analyzed. Results The finite element models of foot were validated to be reliable. Compared with the TDC, the DSC showed higher contact pressure at the tibiotalar joint and lower contact pressure at the talonavicular joint. The tensile force of spring and plantar calcaneocuboid ligaments of DSC was 10 times and 58 times of TDC, respectively. The forces transmitted through both mediate and lateral columns in DSC were lower than those in TDC. Conclusions Abnormal contact pressure of the tibiotalar joint, larger tensile force of midfoot ligaments and smaller force of the transverse tarsal joint were found in DSC during standing. The abnormal alteration of stress patterns in foot internal structure of DSC should be fully considered in clinical rehabilitation, so as to provide theoretical references for screening and making intervention plans for early rehabilitation, as well as designing individualized orthopedic insoles.