Foot & Ankle Biomechanics
FOOTPRINT - Research & innovation to advance our understanding of foot biomechanics
FOOTPRINT seeks to undertake experimental and computational research to investigate normal (healthy) and abnormal (disease/injury) biomechanics of the foot and ankle, and research interventions that are relevant to health care practice and foot health industries.
FOOTPRINT brings together a multidisciplinary team to address a range research challenges related to the foot and ankle. This includes members of the health professions, engineers, physiologists, sports and computing scientists.
The work provides the basis for the Doctoral work of multiple staff and students and has a record of attracting substantial research funding. Work to date has been published in some of the highest ranking journals in the biomechanics field and is supported by a portfolio of international collaborations.
Foot and ankle biomechanics in health, injury and disease
This work seeks to improve our fundamental understanding of how the foot functions during gait and related tasks, and how structures and tissues of the foot and lower limb influence function. The work is currently experimental in the main, with a view to use of experimental data in computational models in the future.
Examples include: the study on foot kinematics using cadaver, invasive in vivo and multi-segment foot models; the study of foot pressure and its relationship to foot motion; study of foot motion, muscle activity and tendon behaviour in Achilles injury; biomechanical properties of the plantar soft tissues of the foot; function of the intrinsic muscles/fascia of the foot.
Effect of orthoses/insoles on foot biomechanics
Several projects offer insight into how foot orthoses affect foot and lower limb biomechanics. Using an invasive approach to measuring foot bone kinematics research has quantified the effect of both ‘anti pronation’ and ‘laterally wedged’ orthoses on the kinematics of the foot and ankle. Other work is investigating how insole design features affect pressure distribution under the foot, and how this might relate to changes in foot motion. Research in this area has created the “salfordinsole” spin out company, that now provides insole products and services to the UK National Health Service (www.salfordinsole.co.uk).
Biomechanics of footwear
A range of projects are underway linked to the needs of industry partners in both retail and health care markets. The research is part evaluation of existing footwear and part innovation for new footwear designs. The research seeks to better understand the link between footwear design (e.g. sole shape, shoe upper volume, heel height) and materials (e.g. sole stiffness, upper stiffness), and the effects of footwear on foot pressure, muscle activity, lower limb joint motion and ultimately foot and lower limb health. The relationship between footwear biomechanics and perceived comfort is also under investigation.
FOOTPRINT’S programme leader, Prof. Chris Nester, is co-founder and Steering Group member for iFAB – International Foot and Ankle Biomechanics Community. This is a free to join international community for any person interested in foot and ankle biomechanics.
The primary aims of the community are to drive increase collaboration between disciplines, sectors, and countries, thus driving reduced duplication of research and improved research standards . The community has over 800 members from 45 different countries. See: http://moodle.i-fab.org/
