Integrating a Modified Patellar Band With a Progressive Stop to Mitigate Running-Related Injuries Occurring in Individuals With Genu Recurvatum

School Name

Spring Valley High School

Grade Level

11th Grade

Presentation Topic

Engineering

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Abstract

Running is frequently regarded as an exercise without numerous health benefits; however, knee injuries, espeically genu recurvatum, are a key reason why many runners are sidelined during their respective solutions. Genu recurvatum is characterized as the excessive knee extension past the 5 degree threshold. There are currently, mulitple approaches to solve this issue, but all of the solutions have their flaws. For example, knee offloader braces are too bulky which restricts mobility for runners, and patellar band, while offloading force, are not able to negate hyperextension in the knee. For this reason, the study aimed at redesigning an existing DonJoy patellar band that would provide a lightweight device that would not only lessen the patellar tendon force but also limit terminal hyperextension without causing any restriction to the movement. The prototype was designed with an quadricep-support band created with neoprene, nylon, and polyeruthane foam and included a progressive stop mechanism created with carbon figer. The device was tested in a single-subject lab with the use of b-skips being performed on a force plate, a goniometer, and an accelerometer. The ground reaction forces, linear and angular accelerations, and other components were imputed in an inverse dynamics model which was derived from the moment arm of the knee and the preperndicular distance. The prototype provided a vertical ground reaction force reduction from 1240 N to 1147 N and a decrease in estimated patellar tendon force from 11.5 kN to 7.31 kN (~36% reduction) when it was compared to the control.

Location

Furman Hall 201

Start Date

3-28-2026 11:15 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 28th, 11:15 AM

Integrating a Modified Patellar Band With a Progressive Stop to Mitigate Running-Related Injuries Occurring in Individuals With Genu Recurvatum

Furman Hall 201

Running is frequently regarded as an exercise without numerous health benefits; however, knee injuries, espeically genu recurvatum, are a key reason why many runners are sidelined during their respective solutions. Genu recurvatum is characterized as the excessive knee extension past the 5 degree threshold. There are currently, mulitple approaches to solve this issue, but all of the solutions have their flaws. For example, knee offloader braces are too bulky which restricts mobility for runners, and patellar band, while offloading force, are not able to negate hyperextension in the knee. For this reason, the study aimed at redesigning an existing DonJoy patellar band that would provide a lightweight device that would not only lessen the patellar tendon force but also limit terminal hyperextension without causing any restriction to the movement. The prototype was designed with an quadricep-support band created with neoprene, nylon, and polyeruthane foam and included a progressive stop mechanism created with carbon figer. The device was tested in a single-subject lab with the use of b-skips being performed on a force plate, a goniometer, and an accelerometer. The ground reaction forces, linear and angular accelerations, and other components were imputed in an inverse dynamics model which was derived from the moment arm of the knee and the preperndicular distance. The prototype provided a vertical ground reaction force reduction from 1240 N to 1147 N and a decrease in estimated patellar tendon force from 11.5 kN to 7.31 kN (~36% reduction) when it was compared to the control.