Comparative Analysis of Material Characteristics and Biomechanical Performance in Passive Ankle-Foot Orthoses

Hamid Asadi Dereshgi; Dilan Demir

Makale detayları

Comparative Analysis of Material Characteristics and Biomechanical Performance in Passive Ankle-Foot Orthoses

Yazarlar:

Hamid Asadi Dereshgi | Dilan Demir

Yayıncı:

Gazi University

Ana Başlıklar:

Biyomekanik

Dergi:

Politeknik Dergisi Vol.28 Issue 4, pp.1175-1186

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354314

pISSN:

2147-9429

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 Passive ankle-foot orthoses AFOs provide essential joint stabilization and limit excessive movement, serving as a cornerstone in biomechanical gait analysis. This study innovatively developed three distinct passive AFOs using thermoplastic polyurethane TPU, high-impact polystyrene HIPS, and polylactic acid PLA materials, along with a silicone sole, demonstrating enhanced mechanical properties and functional performance. The materials were analyzed using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy FE-SEM, tensile testing, finite element analysis FEA, and gait analysis. In particular, FE-SEM revealed micrometer-scale surface roughness 50 μm, confirming the materials microstructural consistency. The PLA-based AFO outperformed the HIPS and TPU variants, exhibiting a 73.43 and 98.93 higher strength, respectively, in tensile tests. Additionally, PLA exhibited a 16.04 lower displacement compared to HIPS and a 99.25 lower displacement compared to TPU in FEA. Moreover, gait analysis quantified a 24.14 reduction in ankle angular displacement for the TPU-based AFO, 40.38 for the HIPS-based AFO, and 52.39 for the PLA-based AFO, all relative to the without AFO condition, with the PLA AFO demonstrating the most significant enhancement in joint stabilization. Ultimately, this study revealed notable progress in passive AFO design, highlighted PLAs superior performance in joint stability, and laid the groundwork for future advancements in orthosis designs.

 Passive ankle-foot orthoses AFOs provide essential joint stabilization and limit excessive movement, serving as a cornerstone in biomechanical gait analysis. This study innovatively developed three distinct passive AFOs using thermoplastic polyurethane TPU, high-impact polystyrene HIPS, and polylactic acid PLA materials, along with a silicone sole, demonstrating enhanced mechanical properties and functional performance. The materials were analyzed using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy FE-SEM, tensile testing, finite element analysis FEA, and gait analysis. In particular, FE-SEM revealed micrometer-scale surface roughness 50 μm, confirming the materials microstructural consistency. The PLA-based AFO outperformed the HIPS and TPU variants, exhibiting a 73.43 and 98.93 higher strength, respectively, in tensile tests. Additionally, PLA exhibited a 16.04 lower displacement compared to HIPS and a 99.25 lower displacement compared to TPU in FEA. Moreover, gait analysis quantified a 24.14 reduction in ankle angular displacement for the TPU-based AFO, 40.38 for the HIPS-based AFO, and 52.39 for the PLA-based AFO, all relative to the without AFO condition, with the PLA AFO demonstrating the most significant enhancement in joint stabilization. Ultimately, this study revealed notable progress in passive AFO design, highlighted PLAs superior performance in joint stability, and laid the groundwork for future advancements in orthosis designs.

 Passive ankle-foot orthoses AFOs provide essential joint stabilization and limit excessive movement, serving as a cornerstone in biomechanical gait analysis. This study innovatively developed three distinct passive AFOs using thermoplastic polyurethane TPU, high-impact polystyrene HIPS, and polylactic acid PLA materials, along with a silicone sole, demonstrating enhanced mechanical properties and functional performance. The materials were analyzed using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy FE-SEM, tensile testing, finite element analysis FEA, and gait analysis. In particular, FE-SEM revealed micrometer-scale surface roughness 50 μm, confirming the materials microstructural consistency. The PLA-based AFO outperformed the HIPS and TPU variants, exhibiting a 73.43 and 98.93 higher strength, respectively, in tensile tests. Additionally, PLA exhibited a 16.04 lower displacement compared to HIPS and a 99.25 lower displacement compared to TPU in FEA. Moreover, gait analysis quantified a 24.14 reduction in ankle angular displacement for the TPU-based AFO, 40.38 for the HIPS-based AFO, and 52.39 for the PLA-based AFO, all relative to the without AFO condition, with the PLA AFO demonstrating the most significant enhancement in joint stabilization. Ultimately, this study revealed notable progress in passive AFO design, highlighted PLAs superior performance in joint stability, and laid the groundwork for future advancements in orthosis designs.

 Pasif ayak-bilek ortezleri AFOları, eklemlerin stabilizasyonunu sağlamakta ve gereksiz hareketi sınırlayarak biyomekanik yürüme analizinde temel bir unsur olarak hizmet ederler. Bu çalışma, termoplastik poliüretan TPU, yüksek darbe polistiren HIPS ve polilaktik asit PLA malzemeleri ile silikon taban kullanarak üç farklı pasif AFOyu yenilikçi bir şekilde geliştirmiş, bu ortezlerin mekanik özelliklerini ve fonksiyonel performanslarını iyileştirdiğini belirtmiştir. Malzemeler, Alan Emisyonlu Taramalı Elektron Mikroskobu FE-SEM, çekme testi, sonlu elemanlar analizi FEA ve yürüyüş analizi kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Özellikle, FE-SEM, malzemelerin mikro yapısal tutarlılığını doğrulayan ve yüzey pürüzlülüğünü mikrometre ölçeğinde 50 μm ortaya koyan bir sonuç elde etmiştir. PLA tabanlı AFO, HIPS ve TPU varyantlarına kıyasla çekme testlerinde sırasıyla 73,43 ve 98,93 daha yüksek dayanım sergileyerek üstün performans göstermiştir. Ayrıca, FEA sonuçlarına göre PLA, HIPSe göre 16,04, TPUya göre ise 99,25 daha düşük yer değiştirme gerçekleştirmiştir. Bunun yanı sıra, yürüme analizleri, AFOsuz duruma kıyasla TPU tabanlı AFO için 24,14, HIPS tabanlı AFO için 40,38 ve PLA tabanlı AFO için 52,39 oranında ayak bileği açısal yer değiştirmesinde azalma olduğunu ortaya koymuş ve PLA tabanlı AFO, eklem stabilizasyonundaki en belirgin iyileşmeyi sağlamıştır. Sonuç olarak, bu çalışma pasif AFO tasarımında önemli bir gelişme ortaya koymuş, PLAnın eklem stabilitesindeki üstün performansını vurgulamış ve gelecekteki ortez tasarımlarına zemin hazırlamıştır.

Makale detayları

Comparative Analysis of Material Characteristics and Biomechanical Performance in Passive Ankle-Foot Orthoses

Yazarlar:

Hamid Asadi Dereshgi | Dilan Demir

Yayıncı:

Gazi University

Ana Başlıklar:

Biyomekanik

Dergi:

Politeknik Dergisi Vol.28 Issue 4, pp.1175-1186

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354314

pISSN:

2147-9429

Biomechanics

passive ankle-foot orthosis

joint stabilization

gait analysis

finite element analysisBiyomekanik

pasif ayak-bilek ortezi

eklem stabilizasyonu

yürüyüş analizi

sonlu elemanlar analizi

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Hamid Asadi Dereshgi | Dilan Demir

Yayıncı: Gazi University

Ana Başlıklar: Biyomekanik

Dergi: Politeknik Dergisi Vol.28 Issue 4, pp.1175-1186

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 6/2025

Belge Dili: İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.): 2001354314

pISSN: 2147-9429

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Hamid Asadi Dereshgi | Dilan Demir

Yayıncı:

Gazi University

Ana Başlıklar:

Biyomekanik

Dergi:

Politeknik Dergisi Vol.28 Issue 4, pp.1175-1186

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354314

pISSN:

2147-9429