Landing-Induced Viscoelastic Changes in an Anthropomimetic Foot Joint Structure are Modulated by Foot Structure and Posture

2026-01-21

AI Summary

This study addresses the challenge of characterizing the posture-dependent viscoelastic response of the human foot under impact loading—a key limitation in understanding how skeletal architecture influences landing dynamics. To overcome the infeasibility of repeated measurements in biological specimens, the authors developed a biomimetic multi-joint foot structure that replicates anatomical bone geometry. Coupled with a vertical drop apparatus and a viscoelastic system identification model, this platform enabled systematic investigation of how skeletal configuration and joint posture modulate apparent viscoelastic behavior. The results demonstrate that arch morphology and passive joint postures independently govern the trade-off between impact attenuation and energy return. Compared to simplified flat or rigid foot models, the biomimetic multi-joint foot exhibited a higher damping ratio, which was significantly reduced by ankle dorsiflexion and toe extension, highlighting the critical role of skeletal structure and posture in tuning mechanical responses during landing.

Technology Category

Intelligent Robots: Multimodal Perception & Sensor FusionCognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Simulating Human BehaviorHumans and AI: Human-Aware Planning and Behavior Prediction

Application Category

Responsible Web: Machine-in-the-loop, human agency and autonomySystems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Web performance, measurement, and characterizationGraph Algorithms and Modeling for the Web: Efficient manipulation of static and dynamic Web-related graphs

Abstract

Cadaveric studies have provided important insights into the mechanics of the human foot arch and plantar fascia. However, repeatedly probing posture-dependent viscoelastic responses immediately after landing impact is difficult in biological specimens, leaving the contribution of skeletal architecture to landing dynamics incompletely understood. In this study, we developed an anthropomimetic foot joint structure aimed at replicating the skeletal geometry of the human foot. Using a vertical drop apparatus that simulates landing and a viscoelastic system-identification model, we investigated how skeletal structure and posture modulate the apparent post-impact viscoelastic response. The results show that the multi-jointed anthropomimetic structure exhibited a higher damping ratio than simplified flat and rigid feet. Moreover, ankle dorsiflexion and toe extension systematically shifted the identified parameters, reducing the damping ratio under the tested conditions. Taken together, these findings indicate that an arch-like, multi-jointed skeletal architecture can enhance impact attenuation in an anthropomimetic mechanical foot, and that morphology and passive posture alone can tune the trade-off between attenuation and rebound. The observed posture-dependent trends are qualitatively consistent with reported differences in human landing strategies, suggesting that skeletal architecture may partly account for the modulation. Furthermore, these results highlight the engineering advantage of anatomically informed skeletal replication for achieving human-like apparent viscoelastic behavior through postural adjustment during landing.

Problem

• viscoelastic response
• landing impact
• skeletal architecture
• foot posture
• anthropomimetic structure

Innovation

• anthropomimetic foot
• viscoelastic response
• skeletal architecture
• landing impact
• postural modulation