This paper presents a three-dimensional nonlinear biomechanical finite element model to simulate elderly breast deformation under arm abduction. The finite element model was constructed based on complex anatomical structures that consist of the soft tissues including torso, breast, pectoralis major muscle, and rigid bones including humerus, sternum, clavicle and ribs. The elderly breast was defined as material nonlinearity and geometric nonlinearity. The computational model can simulate and illustrate the deformation of soft tissues during arm abduction from 30° to 90°. The finite element model was validated by motion data. The Young’s modulus for the clavicular portion and the sternocostal portion of the pectoralis major muscle was characterized as 0.1 MPa and 0.08 MPa, respectively. Besides this, the finite element model presented here features the musculoskeletal system for breast deformation and reveals the synergistic relationship between the breast and the pectoralis major muscle. A questionnaire was conducted to analyze the importance of purchasing factors and the discomfort positions in a sports bra from the perspective of senior women. Combined with the finite element model results, this study provides a promising basis for the design of sports bras in an ergonomic way.
Bracing is the most common non-operative treatment option for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). However, existing brace designs have deficiencies, including a long production lead time and low patient compliance caused by the negative impacts of bracing on quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to address these problems by developing a new textile-based scoliosis brace in accordance with the biomechanics used in the existing braces for spinal correction. A case study of interface pressure had been carried out to determine the optimum combination of pads to be used in the proposed brace to correct a scoliotic spine. AIS patients who were undergoing hard brace treatment were recruited to complete a questionnaire (BrQ) on hard braces and on the proposed brace. The BrQ scores of the two types of braces were compared to assess their respective impacts on the QoL. The findings show that the proposed brace can address the issue of patient compliance by reducing the impact of bracing on QoL, and shorten the production lead time through incorporation of the mass customization concept into the design. Similar to most of the commonly-used scoliosis braces, the selected combination of pads used in the proposed brace for spinal correction shows a sufficient amount of exerted pressure and a similar function of active spinal correction.
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