ARUP; ISBN: 978-0-9562121-5-3 - CMBBE 2012 - Cardiff University

In this work it is presented the determination of the angles applied by the foot to
produce the walking cycle, which can be used to cure some illness, treat diverse kind of
pathologies and develops more efficient prosthesis for a low member. The study was
carried out by recording the walking cycle of a patient, which will allow to personalize
any kind of solution for the person and making a unique the numerical analysis, which
will lead to the treatment or cure.
3. WALKING PARAMETERS DETERMINATION
It has been established, that the ankle movement depends on the foot joints, as well as
the conjunction of muscles, ligaments and cartilages. Movement takes place on the
transverse axis at the level of the lateral malleolus and lightly below the medial
malleolus. It is possible for the ankle joint to perform dorsi-flexion and foot flexion with
a maximum extent of 90 ° from the normal position (Figure 1) [5]. Additionally, from
the point of view of the sagital plane, it is possible to determine the contact produced by
the movement of the joints between the heel and the support medium point [6].
4. WALKING TESTS
Figure 1.- Ankle movement graphic representation
Walking analyses can be performed in different manners, nevertheless, all test have the
tendency to obtain movement trends. These analyses have the main objective to produce
some kind of cure which can be applied to different and diverse pathologies, as well as
offer rehabilitation treatments for patients. The case of study presented in this paper, is
that of a 24 year old female patient without any apparent pathology, with a total
recuperated traumatic injury in the left knee (which had affected the walking cycle).
Measurements were taken from the low extremities, as well as a physical exploration
and transtibial section tomography (Figure 2). Additionally, to perform the walking
analysis it was necessary to establish the normality degree of the patient foot tread [7].
Figure 2.- Patient tomography and foot print