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Title: A Dynamic Approach to Measuring Achilles Tendon Moment Arm
Abstract:
The Achilles tendon (AT) is highly susceptible to re-injury during rehabilitation, yet current approaches often overlook individual variations in in vivo tendon mechanics and lack methods to detect underloading or overloading during recovery exercises. One important biomechanical measure that influences tendon loading is the AT moment arm, which determines the output torque at the ankle joint. However, it remains difficult to accurately measure the AT moment during load-bearing, dynamic movement such as walking. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of combining B-mode ultrasound imaging with motion capture to estimate the AT moment arm during walking in one subject. The AT midline was extracted from B-mode images collected during treadmill walking, and the moment arm was estimated as the distance to the ankle joint center. The moment arm trajectory was consistent across strides and aligned with reported tendon behavior, which exhibited a minimum in the early stance and a peak during push-off. These preliminary findings provide a foundation for future development involving a wearable M-mode ultrasound system to measure key AT mechanics for personalized rehabilitation and reducing the risk of re-injury.