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A new model use the researchers to learn how toe power can determine to what extent people can sit, while keeping their balance.The results could support that closely imitate parts of the body in the construction of the robot human movement and could lead to a new generation of advanced prosthetics.
Hooshang Hemami, Professor of electrical and computer engineering at the Ohio State University has to investigate a complex computer model of the foot, what role built the feet and toes in the definition of the movement and the balance of the human body.
Many studies of the human balance on the legs and the upper part of the body, was in defiance of the feet, he said.
Hemami is one of a handful of researchers who analyze how manipulate toe strength can affect human balance.
"To reduce the complexity of the problem, the feet are often neglected or modeled using simple shapes, give the really full credit on the importance of the feet," Hemami next.
Hemami and a colleague, Laura Humphrey, a computer model developed to various parts of the foot, from a message body and a footer, the four different sections represent, while body assign a section. This allows Hemami and Humphrey, first and foremost the pressure of the feet and toes to focus on, how they have manipulated the movement towards the front of the body.
Hemami and Humphreys work was published in a recent issue of the journal of biomechanics. The researchers carried out simulations of static balance and forward look in the body of computer modeled and compared to observe the results with those in the scientific literature.
Static equilibrium is when a subject's right or one angle and stabilized in this position with the surface of the foot on the ground to stay. The computer model can perform bent forward indefinitely, but people later declared Hemami experience muscle fatigue.
Built-in Hemami and Humphrey model allowed them, results, which supports the results of the balance of topics displayed. You have run tests for three different cases: static balance in healthy subjects, static balance prior to the test in healthy subjects and patients with toe strength reduced.
To model it mimics a theme with reduced power of the toes, the a muscle weakened one of the sections in the foot of computer modeled Hemami and Humphrey, displayed directly on the big toe. This muscle, the Arch of the foot to control, which provides support for the organization in a call.
The results show that a person in good health, toes became more important, that the person is pleased.
How computer modeled body forward turned the pressure on the toes and under the pressure of the heel in a similar way has been reduced significantly increases.
If that computer modeled with force of the toes reduced same static balance tests on the body made were remained the pressure under the toes to 0 (zero). First the pressure under the heel is significantly higher than in healthy individuals, and as the body pressure under the only reduced heel, half of what it has done, the healthy subject.
The maximum angle, the a healthy body, the computer model without her heels raised ground to the size of address could was 12 degrees vertically. The model with reduced power of the toes could count only on the front of almost 10 degrees.
The computer model supports studies on real back, explains Hemami. Deviation: could his computer model 12 degrees without their heels-based forward while the real people of only two - third lean than - 8 degrees.
"This gap could be that people feel maximum theoretical range of motion, not comfortable with their psychologische-," Hemami said.
Mr Hemami Laura Humphrey was one of his students and has since attended State of Ohio.
"Now we have a proper computer model, we hope to explore in future of the sensory apparatus and other features of the toes in various human activities," said Hemami.
It works with Ian Alexander, Professor of orthopaedic surgery in the State of Ohio, in the near future.
In the future Hemami, model required wants the human spinal cord and development of a system for mathematics and pressure to determine the level of coverage for specific tasks. Hemami uses the sample should be given of how much, keep an egg in your hands, without leaving or crashes it pressure.
"My hope is that my work will inspire the construction of the models of the robot from different parts of the body, which can go for the human body." If you are a model of the robot or computer a football as a football player can make, we have a better understanding of how different parts of the body of work while moving. Then, perhaps, one can create artificial spinal cord, which can help people with disabilities, "Said Hemami." "Attach spinal cord Robotics, who is disabled can help build muscle."
"We try to which muscles can to do to develop model, and the advanced prostheses so that something better to offer people who need it, helping", said Hemami.