The Human Foot and Ankle Essay -- Biology, Bones, Joints

IntroductionThe pitying race stem and ankle are composed of 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than a hundred muscles, tendons and ligaments. These components work together to provide the body with support, balance and mobility. The understructure acts as a rigid lever and mobile adapter (Amstrong Prosthetic feet, 2010). The human fundament must be capable of withstanding the bodys fish and functions as a shock absorber (Swierzewski, 2007 NYU, 1990). The prosthetic foot needs to be capable of copyking the missing indispensable foot, to make for the most businesslike footstep pattern. When due to disease, accident or developmental malformation a natural foot is absent a prosthetic foot is used to mimic the missing limb in an attempt to create the most efficient gait pattern. The prosthetist must choose from numerous types of prosthetic feet, depending upon the patients physical condition and life-style needs (Swierzewski, 2007).Gait CycleThe human gait pedal is comprised o f multiple sequential steps. It begins with the heel of the foot hiting the scope and ends when that same foot contacts the ground again (Perry, 1992). The period of the gait cycle that the foot is on the ground is called the stance phase. The period when the foot is in the air is called the swing phase. The phases of the gait cycle are initial contact (IC), loading response (LR), mid-stance (MSt), end stance (TSt), pre-swing (PSw), initial swing (ISw), mid-swing (MSw) and terminal swing (TSw). There are three primary functions of the gait cycle, which are weight acceptance, single limb support, and limb advancement. Weight acceptance occurs during initial contact and loading response. During these phases, the limb is stabilized to prevent falling and the foot fun... ...activities. The main disadvantage of this foot is that it costs more than other feet, and feces only be used by patients at the K3 level or above (Lusardi & Nielsen, 2007). ManufacturesThere are several dif ferent manufactures of prosthetic feet such(prenominal) as Ossur, Ottobock, Ohio Willow Wood, and SPS. Most companies specialize in adult feet though there are some manufactures such as Ossur that have a special pediatric line. On the companies websites, feet are organized based on K level and further categorized based upon male or female. Prosthetic feet come in different lengths in centimeters and left or right. They also are grouped by weight of the patient that rump safely use the foot. Some feet come in different contend colors and others have a space between the big toenail and second toe to accommodate the user who wants to wear flip-flops or place with toe straps.