Session: MSNDC-06-02: Nonlinear and Computational Dynamics Aspects in Biomechanics

Paper Number: 97948

97948 - Simulation-Driven Analysis of Gait With Lower Limb Prosthesis 

A transfemoral amputation, occurring at or above the knee, results in a combination of mental and physical hindrances that accompany the procedure and lead to significant deviations from typical gait dynamics. Those differences are believed to be one of the principal causes of the secondary medical conditions that arise post-amputation and worsen the health and quality of life of the amputees. This research involves analyzing the differences between the gaits of an able-body individual and lower limb prostheses users, with the ultimate goal of reducing the gaps between the two of them. One of the challenges faced by the existing methods is to identify the contributions of the prostheses or the patients' actions to the gaits’ variations. The novel approach taken computationally compares what an able body individual does, what a prosthesis user should do to match the able body, and what a prosthesis user actually does. These comparisons give us a better understanding of the deviations caused by the prosthesis or its user, and the limitations of the prosthesis, which can lead to better prostheses design and training strategies for the prostheses users.

Additionally, the platform built for our simulations allows us to modify the mechanical components of a prosthesis to optimize the locomotion of the user.

Presenting Author: Jacques Ezechiel Nguessan University of California Merced

Presenting Author Biography: Jacques-Ezechiel (Jacques) Nguessan completed his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at Kennesaw State University and previously worked on designing mechanical and optomechanical systems. Since the Fall of 2019, he is pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of California Merced, working with Dr. Sachin Goyal.

Authors:

Jacques Ezechiel Nguessan University of California Merced
Muhammad Ahmed University of California Merced
Sachin Goyal University of California Merced
Matthew Leineweber San José State University