Foot contact surface effect to the metatarsals loading character during inversion landing

摘要

The present study reports the development of a detailed three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) foot model for investigating the effect of the material properties and thicknesses of the landing mat on stress distribution and concentration point within the metatarsals during landing at an inversion position. Foam material mat insert between the foot and ground with different thicknesses had been systematic studied. The predicted plantar pressure distribution showed a good agreement with the experimental data of controlled biomechanical tests. Results showed that mat insert with optimal properties and thickness could reduce the peak plantar pressure by about 36% comparing to the barefoot-solid ground condition. The fifth metatarsal was the most vulnerable part during the inversion landing, and the peak stress point was located near the proximal part. Material sensitivity study showed that the metatarsals' stress level was affected by the material property of the mat and its thickness. Meanwhile, the influence of thickness for soft material was more effective than that for the hard material.