A new method has been developed to determine the essential biomechanical responses of human and dummy joints. Moment-angle characteristics are measured for a quasi-static input about a fixed or moving center of rotation. The method is used to determine joint characteristics (kinematics and biomechanics) for human foot-ankle joints within the natural and injury range of motion. The results of the Hybrid III ankle and neck, and 16 foot-ankles are examined. The Hybrid III neck was tested in flexion/extension, and in lateral rotation. The Hybrid III ankle was tested in dorsiflexion/plantarflexion, and in inversion/eversion. The foot-ankles were tested to failure in inversion/eversion. The repeatability of the method was assessed by testing the Hybrid III ankle 5 times. The results are repeatable within 1% variability. The mechanical properties of dummy or human joints can be investigated with accuracy using the method. The data obtained with the method is useful for future dummy development and mathematical modelling. (A)
Samenvatting