Background Research
- Carbon-Fiber http://composite.about.com/od/aboutcarbon/a/What-Is-Carbon-Fiber.htm
- a material consisting of thin filaments of carbon atoms bound together with a plastic polymer resin by heat, vacuum
- strength of carbon fibers are in the weave
- mold cast and carbon fiber composite placed over it -> used at tech-shop !
- various densities, shapes, and sizes
- Thermoplastic http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-thermoplastic.htm
- plastic made from polymer resins that becomes a homogenized liquid when heated and hard when cooled
- elastomers may be considered the same thing though they bounce back
- thermoplastic tends to stretch, resist, and stay in the shape the are streched to
- plasticizers are used in thermoplastics to lower the material's glass transition temperature
- example of applicable plastic in our brace could be acrylonitrile butadiene styrene -> used to manufacture sports equipment
- Parkinson’s Disease Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/basics/definition/con-20028488 ->
- Disease affects the nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine
- Symptoms include muscle rigidity, and tremors -> loss of muscle movement/control
- Motor symptoms
- Dopamine is a brain chemical that is involved in movement
- Low-levels of this hormone in parkinson patients
- The Ankle http://www.gla.ac.uk/t4/~fbls/files/fab/tutorial/anatomy/anklet.html ->
- ankle joint is a synovial hinge joint permitting two movements
- plantar flexion in which the foot is pointed downwards
- dorsiflexion in which the foot is raised
- dorsiflexion only has movement in the range between 10-30 degrees
- plantar flexion has movement in the range between 20-50 degrees
- Plantarflexion / Dorsiflexion Isokinetic's http://www.isokinetics.info/isokinetics/testing/ankle/plntar-dorsi-flexion.html
- Plantar Flexion
- decreases the angle between the sole of the foot and back of the foot/leg ex. ballerina on tip-toes
- Dorsiflexion
- toes are brought closer to the shin ex. standing on heels
- Types of Braces for Foot Drop LiveStrong http://www.livestrong.com/article/289509-types-of-braces-for-foot-drop/ ->
- braces are used for supporting proper posture while walking
- inability to walk without dragging foot or inability to pick up foot in general
- the general treatment/used most frequently for patients suffering from drop foot is a light-weight foot brace which holds the foot in its normal position
- other treatments include physiotherapy and electric stimulation and surgery (very extreme)
- AFO’s divided into five categories
- Short Leg Brace
- supports flat foot/short in height
- assists patients in walking but doesn’t support a normal walk
- Dorsiflexion Assist Foot Brace
- supports the ankle through a spring action and helps you in lifting the foot while walking
- n/r for people over 225 lbs
- Plantarflexion Assist Foot Brace
- controls forward direction
- heavy !
- Solid Foot Brace
- suports both dorsal and plantar flexion
- Posterior Leaf Foot Brace
- old style brace/not used commonly
- Drop Foot WebMD http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/foot-drop-causes-symptoms-treatments ->
- drop foot is the inability to lift the front part of the foot which inmost cases causes the toes to drag
- to avoid dragging they may lift their knee higher/prefer to use such devices as a walker or cane to facilitate walking
- can be used by nerve injury, brain/spinal disorders, muscle disorders which create movement disabilities in the muscles that control movement that lift the foot
- treatments today include: lightweight braces/shoe inserts/physical therapy/surgery
- we are trying to strike the problem w/ a lightweight brace which in reality will create walking easier due to the fact that the brace is better suited for easing walking
- surgery used to correct muscles through nerve repair/fuse the foot and ankle join/transfer tendons
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