Development of Finite Element Models of the Aging Population using Model Morphing Techniques

Elderly adults aged 65 years and older are a vulnerable population with a greater risk of injury and injury-related deaths due to morphological and physiological changes with age. The elderly population constitutes more than 13% of the total population and with increases in life expectancy, the elderly population is projected to account for nearly 20% of the population by 2030. In addition to the growing elderly population, it is also projected by 2030 that half of these elderly adults will also be obese. Increases in fragility and frailty in the aging and obese population can be the result of morphologic, compositional, and material changes in the human body with age. These changes in the human body also can be the result of osteoporosis, which is a significant public health concern and may be exacerbated with weight loss. Current tools to assess injury and fracture risk generally do not account for the variation in morphology, composition, and material changes with age. This study aims to develop and validate age and sex-specific and subject-specific finite element (FE) human body models to accurately model morphology and mechanics for the elderly and obese populations.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2017

Author dc:creator

• Schoell, Samantha

• Aging

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/82175

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/82175