Finite-Element Analysis-Based Design and Efficacy Assessment of a Three-Dimensional Anisotropic Heel Cushioning Pad for Diabetic Foot Management
Summary: This study uses finite-element analysis (FEA) to design a 3D anisotropic heel cushioning pad tailored for diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) prevention, modeling a reconstructed foot under vertical (300N) and shear loads (25N AP, 15N ML). The pad, with gradient elastic moduli (400-1,000 kPa), reduces peak compressive stress by 66.91% (to 239 kPa) and shear by 75.58% (to 11 kPa), with polynomial fits confirming optimal thresholds. It addresses diabetic tissue’s altered properties, offering a blueprint for insoles that buffer both pressure and shear to mitigate DFU risk.
Key Highlights:
- Model: CT-based 3D foot FE (81K nodes); hyperelastic anisotropic soft tissue; gradient pad (85x60x6 mm).
- Stress Reduction: Compressive 52-67% (optimal 400 kPa); AP shear 51-76% (800 kPa); ML shear 54-72% (1,000 kPa).
- Fits: R² up to 0.9953; low RMSE; diminishing returns beyond thresholds.
- Limitations: Static simulation; needs dynamic/gait validation and clinical trials.
- Authors: Xiong-Gang Yang, Xing-Xi Hu, Lang-Tao Ma et al.
Keywords: 3D heel pad, finite element analysis, diabetic foot, stress reduction, anisotropic, Xiong-Gang Yang, Xing-Xi Hu, Lang-Tao Ma