Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Recent Progress in Studying the Human Foot
V.C. Pinto, M.A. Marques, and M.A.P. Vaz
Abstract
This chapter has the objective of illustrate some of the work being done
on human foot studies in the last years related to its structure and its influence on
human locomotion, namely gait, as a mean of detecting physical or pathological
problems. One of the aims of this work is to describe the experimental techniques
available, some of them developed by the authors, and their fields of application.
This description will start with a brief approach to gait characteristics as an
introduction to the purpose of using the experimental techniques. First, experimental
data acquisition and processing techniques are described, by indicating the type of
available systems and then a brief literature review on the research developments on
measuring plantar pressures and forces. At last, a section is dedicated to describe
numerical techniques and methodologies used today in plantar forces analysis.
1
Introduction
Since primitive times, when Homo Australopithecus locomotion was supported on
four limbs, natural evolution and morphological adaptation of the species related to
the need for survival by grabbing food from high places for example, led to a gradual
V. C . P i n t o (
)
Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management - University of Porto,
Campus da FEUP, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-432 Porto, Portugal
e-mail:
vpinto@inegi.up.pt
M.A. Marques
Physics Department, School of Engineering - Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. Antonio
Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
M.A.P. Vaz
LABIOMEP - Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management - University
of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-432 Porto, Portugal
