This paper presents comprehensive dorsiflexion responses and tolerances obtained from two types of dynamic tests on whole cadavers conducted at the Renault/PSA Laboratory of Accidentology and Biomechanics (LAB) in France: sled tests and subsystem tests. In all the experiments (on whole cadavers), forces and moments within the ankle joint were accurately measured by means of a custom-designed 6-axis load cell implanted in the tibia. The results derived from both the sled tests and the subsystem tests are very similar. Moment rotation curves are provided for the ankle joint. The force in the Achilles tendon which is not directly measured is calculated using the forces applied to the foot and the forces measured in the tibia. The testing indicates that musculature of the leg, even in passive state, strongly influences the response of the ankle when given forces are applied to the foot. Such force in Achilles tendon may have a protective effect on the ankle joint even when the muscles are in a passive state, because this force increases the ability of the foot to resist an imposed dorsiflexion rotation. Some injury tolerances from both types of tests are also discussed. The inertial and the geometric properties of the dummy lower limbs are compared with those of the cadavers. (A)
Samenvatting