The mechanisms and the degree of unloading when using orthoses on affected lower limbs are studied and modeled, which is important because the rate of bone regeneration depends on the level and the program of loading the limb. Using the«DiaSled» computerized measurement system, in vivo measurements were done of the unloading degree of the lower extremity with orthoses of two types for different levels of lateral compression. Based on the assessments of the stiffness of the elementsof orthosis and the limb, a biomechanical model of the unloading of a limb in an orthosis is presented. The model shows goodagreement of the obtained unloading coefficients with experimental data, but misses the dependence of unloading on the degree of compression.
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