Detailed knowledge of the loading conditions within the human body is essential for the development and optimization of treatments for disorders and injuries of the musculoskeletal system. While loads in the major joints of the lower limb have been the subject of extensive study, relatively little is known about the forces applied to the individual bones of the foot. The objective of this study was to use a detailed musculoskeletal model to compute the loads applied to the metatarsal bones during gait across several healthy subjects. Motion-captured gait trials and computed tomography (CT) foot scans from four healthy subjects were used as the inputs to inverse dynamic simulations that allowed the computation of loads at the metatarsal joints. Low loads in the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint were predicted before terminal stance, however, increased to an average peak of 1.9 times body weight (BW) before toe-off in the first metatarsal. At the first tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint, loads of up to 1.0 times BW were seen during the early part of stance, reflecting tension in the ligaments and muscles. These loads subsequently increased to an average peak of 3.0 times BW. Loads in the first ray were higher compared to rays 2–5. The joints were primarily loaded in the longitudinal direction of the bone.
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March 2016
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Metatarsal Loading During Gait—A Musculoskeletal Analysis
Amir A. Al-Munajjed,
Amir A. Al-Munajjed
Musculoskeletal Research,
Anybody Technology,
Niels Jernes Vej 10,
Aalborg 9220, Denmark
e-mail: amir.al-munajjed@gmx.de
Anybody Technology,
Niels Jernes Vej 10,
Aalborg 9220, Denmark
e-mail: amir.al-munajjed@gmx.de
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Jeffrey E. Bischoff,
Jeffrey E. Bischoff
Research and Development,
Zimmer, Inc.,
Warsaw, IN 46581
Zimmer, Inc.,
Warsaw, IN 46581
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Mehul A. Dharia,
Mehul A. Dharia
Research and Development,
Zimmer, Inc.,
Warsaw, IN 46581
Zimmer, Inc.,
Warsaw, IN 46581
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Scott Telfer,
Scott Telfer
Institute of Applied Health Research,
Glasgow Caledonian University,
Glasgow G4 0BA, UK;
Glasgow Caledonian University,
Glasgow G4 0BA, UK;
Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine,
University of Washington,
Seattle, WA 98195
University of Washington,
Seattle, WA 98195
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James Woodburn,
James Woodburn
Institute of Applied Health Research,
Glasgow Caledonian University,
Glasgow G4 0BA, UK
Glasgow Caledonian University,
Glasgow G4 0BA, UK
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Sylvain Carbes
Sylvain Carbes
Anybody Technology,
Aalborg 9220, Denmark
Aalborg 9220, Denmark
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Amir A. Al-Munajjed
Musculoskeletal Research,
Anybody Technology,
Niels Jernes Vej 10,
Aalborg 9220, Denmark
e-mail: amir.al-munajjed@gmx.de
Anybody Technology,
Niels Jernes Vej 10,
Aalborg 9220, Denmark
e-mail: amir.al-munajjed@gmx.de
Jeffrey E. Bischoff
Research and Development,
Zimmer, Inc.,
Warsaw, IN 46581
Zimmer, Inc.,
Warsaw, IN 46581
Mehul A. Dharia
Research and Development,
Zimmer, Inc.,
Warsaw, IN 46581
Zimmer, Inc.,
Warsaw, IN 46581
Scott Telfer
Institute of Applied Health Research,
Glasgow Caledonian University,
Glasgow G4 0BA, UK;
Glasgow Caledonian University,
Glasgow G4 0BA, UK;
Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine,
University of Washington,
Seattle, WA 98195
University of Washington,
Seattle, WA 98195
James Woodburn
Institute of Applied Health Research,
Glasgow Caledonian University,
Glasgow G4 0BA, UK
Glasgow Caledonian University,
Glasgow G4 0BA, UK
Sylvain Carbes
Anybody Technology,
Aalborg 9220, Denmark
Aalborg 9220, Denmark
1Corresponding author.
Manuscript received May 3, 2015; final manuscript received December 20, 2015; published online January 29, 2016. Assoc. Editor: Kenneth Fischer.
J Biomech Eng. Mar 2016, 138(3): 034503 (6 pages)
Published Online: January 29, 2016
Article history
Received:
May 3, 2015
Revised:
December 20, 2015
Citation
Al-Munajjed, A. A., Bischoff, J. E., Dharia, M. A., Telfer, S., Woodburn, J., and Carbes, S. (January 29, 2016). "Metatarsal Loading During Gait—A Musculoskeletal Analysis." ASME. J Biomech Eng. March 2016; 138(3): 034503. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4032413
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