Kinetic analysis of rocker functions of the foot

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24500596
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: Yamagata Prefectural University of Health Science
• Principal Investigator: KANZAKI Hideto 山形県立保健医療大学, 保健医療学部, 教授 (10381352)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): IHASHI Kouji 山形県立保健医療大学, 保健医療学部, 教授 (40160014) ; MAKABE Hitoshi 山形県立保健医療大学, 保健医療学部, 教授 (60363743) ; TAKAHASHI Toshiaki 山形県立保健医療大学, 保健医療学部, 准教授 (50464508) ; MINAMISAWA Tadayoshi 山形県立保健医療大学, 保健医療学部, 講師 (40347208) ; AKATUKA Seiya 山形県立保健医療大学, 保健医療学部, 講師 (70363744) ; NAGASE Tokiko 山形県立保健医療大学, 保健医療学部, 助教 (10404865)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 足部ロッカー / 歩行分析 / 運動力学 / 衝撃吸収 / 足圧分布 / 重心移動 / 機械的効率性 / エネルギー交換

Outline of Final Research Achievements

By limiting the biomechanical roles of three rocker functions produced at the foot region in the stance phase while walking, we examined those functions. Results show that limited rocker functions change the center of mass (COM) displacement pattern, lower leg joint movement, joint moments, shock absorber, and foot stress distribution, as well as decrease the walking velocity. However, limited rocker functions maintained the rate of exchange between kinetic energy and potential energy, which represents smooth displacement of the COM. Results suggest that limiting rocker functions restricts forward displacement of the COM, but walking mechanical efficiency, at least in a young and healthy person, can be maintained by some compensatory movements.

Free Research Field

理学療法学