Biomechanics studies body forces during movement, which is crucial in orthotics design for function restoration and pain alleviation. Advancements in materials and technologies enable custom-designed orthotics, improving patient care and reducing costs.
FREMONT, CA: The human body is a marvel of biomechanics, with its intricate network of bones, muscles, and joints working in concert to produce coordinated movement. When this balance is disrupted by injury, disease, or deformity, the field of orthotics steps in to restore function and alleviate pain. This crucial intervention is underpinned by a deep understanding of biomechanics – the science of forces acting on the body during movement.
Biomechanics
Biomechanics dissects movement into its essential components by considering kinematics and kinetics. Kinematics involves the study of motion without regard to the forces causing it, such as analyzing joint angles, range of motion, and gait patterns. On the other hand, kinetics focuses on the forces acting on the body during movement, including muscle forces, ground reaction forces, and joint moments. By understanding these principles, clinicians can identify abnormal movement patterns that contribute to pain or dysfunction, forming the foundation for orthotic design.
Biomechanical Principles in Action
Fundamental biomechanical principles are essential in orthotic design. Joint control is achieved through specific orthotic designs that limit or guide movement at a particular joint, such as an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) controlling ankle dorsiflexion in patients with foot drop. Load distribution involves redistributing pressure across the foot or limb to reduce excessive stress on specific areas, which is crucial for managing diabetic foot ulcers or offloading pressure during gait in patients with osteoarthritis.
