Modelling the complexity of the foot and ankle during human locomotion: the development and validation of a multi-segment foot model using biplanar videoradiography

Abstract

We developed and validated a multi-segment foot and ankle model for human walking and running. The model has 6-segments, and 7 degrees of freedom; motion between foot segments were constrained with a single oblique axis to enable triplanar motion [Joint Constrained (JC) model]. The accuracy of the JC model and that of a conventional model using a 6 degrees of freedom approach were assessed by comparison to segment motion determined with biplanar videoradiography. Compared to the 6-DoF model, our JC model demonstrated significantly smaller RMS differences [JC: 2.19° (1.43–2.73); 6-DoF: 3.25° (1.37–5.89)] across walking and running. The JC model is thus capable of more accurate musculoskeletal analyses and is also well suited for predictive simulations.

Keywords:

• Multi-segment foot model
• biplanar videoradiography
• kinematics
• modelling
• OpenSim

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the support from the National Centre for Simulation in Rehabilitation Research (NCSRR) team and other visiting scholars. Luke Kelly, Susan D’Andrea and the Brown University Keck Facility team for the aid in collection of the BVR data.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This project was funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Grant [DP160101117] and the UQ Collaborative Industry Engagement Fund in collaboration with Asics Oceania.