Research And Design Of A New Hallux Valgus Orthosis

Hallus valgus or bunion is a disease related to the joint on the toe of the foot.In clinical,the disease is symptomized as the valgus angle,measured with the axis of the first metatarsal and the proximal phalanx,greater than 15 degrees in deformity.After the deformity of the toe,the deformed toe is easy to rub with the shoe and after friction over time,the skin and subcutaneous tissue thickening and swelling,resulting in the formation of bursa and bursitis.Toe bursitis often causes pain,local skin ulcers,and some even lead to infection which requires a long treatment.Surgical treatment is the most effective way for the treatment of hallux valgus,but it's not popular among mild patients for the reasons such as,the severity of the symptoms,the diversity of the surgery and the pathological differences,as well as some psychological and economic factors.Under such a circumstance,a hallux valgus orthosis is essential for these mild patients.An important manifestation of patients with hallux valgus is that their front plantar pressure is significantly higher than the normal people,which increases the friction between the deformed part and the vamp,strengthening the disease.On the other hand,as a sort of medical apparatus and instruments like daily necessities,the muscle fatigue degree of the wearer has an important influence on the therapeutic effect of the product.Meanwhile,the degree of comfort when wearing directly affects people's willingness to use the product.Thus,a good hallux valgus orthosis gives consideration to planter pressure,the muscle fatigue degree and the degree of wearing.At present,there is no similar research of such orthosis.The purpose of this thesis is to study the design and manufacture of an author-designed hallux valgus orthosis,exploring the difference of the plantar pressure distribution among patients,who wear traditional orthosis and the new ones,and normal people.A research on the muscle fatigue degree and the degree of wearing is also needed to find the validity and rationality of product design,which provides a scientific basis for clinical treatment of hallux valgus as well.