William Ledoux, Ph.D.
VA Center of Excellence for Limb Loss Prevention and Prosthetic Engineering
"Amputation Prevention and the Biomechanics of the Human Foot"


ABSTRACT

Among diabetic veterans, the development of foot ulcers, along with
the associated morbidity of infection and potential amputation, is a
major health concern.  Although peripheral vascular disease has been
associated with ulcers, it is now understood that the majority of foot
ulcers are caused by mechanical trauma (aberrant loading) to an
insensate foot.  The shape of the foot is known to affect the pressure
distribution across the foot.  As such, our research into amputation
prevention and foot biomechanics at the VA Puget Sound is guided by
the principle that foot structure affects foot function, that is, high
arched feet work differently than flat feet.  To further our
understanding of how the foot works, we have quantified structural
and functional parameters from different foot types and explored their
relationships, developed a finite element model of the foot, conducted
mechanical testing on cadavers to generate model parameters and
model validations, and have studied the effect of foot type on the
occurrence and location of diabetic ulcers.