Computational Investigation of the Biomechanics of Babywearing in Regards to Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

<p>Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) is a congenital condition where an infant’s hip socket is either loose or otherwise unstable. DDH causes a joint instability where the femoral head is not properly situated inside the acetabulum. Etiology of the condition is in part congenital and developmental, with a difference of DDH prevalence between ethnicities. Incidence of DDH is also in some part dependent on cultural practices and activities of the mother and child. The exact nature of this cultural incidence is not clearly understood. A computational approach is hypothesized to identify the impact of babywearing position on the healthy development of the hip at infancy. Detailed analysis of muscle force contribution and joint reaction force across the range of motion that babywearing allows can give better understanding on correct and incorrect methods of babywearing. The joint kinematics was varied across its range of motion, and the resultant joint reaction forces were analyzed. The reaction force magnitudes and directions supported the assertions of conventional wisdom in babywearing manufacture, and the M position of babywearing and any position similar to it using high hip flexions with wide abductions were found to be most conducive to healthy hip development.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - Open Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Year

2017

Author dc:creator

• Girish, Gaurav

• biomechanics
• babywearing
• developmental dysplasia
• Mechanical Engineering
• Other Medicine and Health Sciences

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.erau.edu/edt/365

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.erau.edu:edt-1364