Novel Plantar Surface Design of a Hinged Ankle Foot Orthosis (HAFO) Manufactured by 3D Printing

Abstract

Ankle foot orthosis manufactured by 3D printing have several benefits in terms of the manufacturing process, such as the diversity of designs and precision of manufacture. However, for the 3D printed orthosis to be functional, it is necessary to observe its mechanical behavior in relation to the forces acting during gait. It is common to observe high stiffness in orthoses manufactured by 3D printing during the foot roll phase, which can interfere with the performance of functional mobility. This study proposes new geometry in the plantar region of the orthosis, based on data from computer simulations, in order to provide its flexibility during gait, helping to improve the performance of this functional activity. The results showed that the new surface deformed 465% more (30.01 mm) compared to the traditional surface (6.45 mm).