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FEA ankle model to analyze ligament load and preventitive braces
Kephart, Maximalian Mazur, Mykola Petrella, Anthony
Kephart, Maximalian
Mazur, Mykola
Petrella, Anthony
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2024-04
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Abstract
In the United States 25,000 ankle sprains occur every day where inversion sprains make up 80% of all ankle sprains. Inversion sprains structurally have the potential to affect three ligaments: the anterior talofibular (ATFL), calcaneofibular (CFL), and posterior talofibular (PTFL). The ATFL is the weakest ligament by far where 70% of lateral ankle sprains only involve this ligament. An ankle brace's goal is to take on the majority of the structural load that would be otherwise put onto the ligaments; moreover, in inversion sprains the brace needs to specifically protect the ATFL. The purpose of this study was to develop an FE model that uses external 3D scans to quantify the effectiveness of different ankle brace designs by analyzing the forces along the ligaments caused by an inversion sprain. Four simulations were analyzed, three of which used a 23 N-m moment applied on the ankle, foam brace, and plastic brace while the fourth simulation used a 46 N-m moment on the plastic brace. After applying a 23 N-m moment onto the ankle, the foam brace reduced the load on the ATFL by 51% and further reduced by the plastic brace by 80%. The significance of this study is the development of an FE model that can be applied to individual users to aid the design of custom fitting ankle braces while measuring this design's effectiveness in protecting the ATFL, CFL, PTFL, and preventing ankle inversions.
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