ABLE Lab

Applied Biomechanics of the Lower Extremity (ABLE) Laboratory

Director and Principal Investigator: Hafizur Rahman, PhD
Students: James Hughes, Madeleine Mehaffey, Nicholas Obias, Isabella Strash

The ABLE lab conducts clinical and translational research directly related to foot and ankle deformities to improve health care delivery. The ABLE lab aims to improve mobility, functional independence, walking performance, and quality of life in patients with foot and ankle dysfunctions, using advanced gait biomechanical analysis, finite element modeling, musculoskeletal modeling and simulation, and variability analysis. The ABLE lab’s research outcomes will deliver high-quality health care in South Texas, providing comprehensive medical and surgical management for foot and ankle care.

The ABLE lab is able to provide hands-on experience using advanced biomechanics tools for foot and ankle biomechanics research to podiatric medical students along with the didactic lectures in the classroom. The students get the opportunity to learn the fundamental of gait biomechanics and how gait biomechanics can be related to treat specific diseases. Understanding the biomechanical effects of various treatment procedures for different pathological conditions in foot and ankle complexity clarifies how gait dysfunctions can occur in the lower extremity and whether the existing treatments restore the lower extremity gait biomechanics. This will lay the foundation for podiatric medical students to utilize the biomechanics tools in a clinical setting in the future to better understand and diagnose a specific disease and to develop novel interventions through evidence-based biomedical research. 

Current Research Projects

1) Analysis of Plantar Pressure in Patients with Painful Equinus

Biomechanics Faculty: Dr. Hafizur Rahman
Student Researcher: James Hughes

Project Description: Equinus is an ankle dysfunction that limits the dorsiflexion at the ankle joint. Equinus can express itself through many painful symptoms such as Metatarsalgia, Posterior tibial tendon insufficiency, Plantar fasciitis, and Stress fractures. Current literature is limited in explaining how plantar pressure is associated with painful symptoms in patients with equinus. The ABLE lab at the UTRGV SOPM is investigating the plantar pressures distribution in patients with equinus experiencing different symptoms of pain and how conservative treatments such as proper shoe gear, orthotics, and ankle-foot orthoses may relieve plantar pressures.

2) Efficacy of Orthotic Shoes and Inserts in Reducing Peak Plantar Pressures and Pain in Patients with Diabetic and Foot Pain

Biomechanics Faculty: Dr. Hafizur Rahman
Student Researcher: Madeleine Mehaffey

Project Description: Increased plantar pressures, biomechanical deformities, and foot temperature have been shown to significantly contribute to comorbidities such as diabetic foot ulcerations, foot pain, corns and calluses, and many other health burdens. By wearing custom-fit devices, such as prefabricated depth and custom shoes, footwear modifications, and orthoses, diabetic neuropathy patients can redistribute pressure by lowering the peak plantar pressure in specific areas and eventually help preventing foot ulceration and ulcer recurrence. This project aims to investigate the effectiveness of several therapeutic shoes, prefabricated inserts, and socks that determine the best orthosis for reducing plantar pressures and foot pain by quantitatively measuring dynamic in-shoe plantar pressure distribution.

3) Energy Cost of Walking in Diabetic Partial-Foot Amputees as Related to Amputation Level

Biomechanics Faculty: Dr. Hafizur Rahman
Student Researcher: Nicholas Obias

Project Description: This study will explore how the energy cost of walking changes with different levels of partial-foot amputation in diabetic patients. Patient populations with advanced stages of diabetes and associated complications have a high incidence of distal lower extremity amputation. Diabetes-associated conditions and altered foot function in post-amputation patients affect gait biomechanics and energy expenditure during walking. We will use advanced biomechanical tools to quantify and compare energy expenditure (defined as cardiac function and oxygen consumption) in established post-operative partial-foot amputees at various levels to age-matched healthy older individuals. Dr. Rahman and his team aim to provide further clarification on anticipated gait changes and metabolic performance in diabetic patients with post partial-foot amputation.

4) Pre and Post Operative Analyses of Forefoot Plantar Pressure and Gait Characteristics During Walking in Patients with Hammertoe Deformities

Biomechanics Faculty: Dr. Hafizur Rahman
Student Researcher: Isabella Strash

Project Description: Hammertoes are one of the most common toe deformities causing pain and swelling in the affected toes. A hammertoe deformity is defined as dorsiflexion at the metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) with plantarflexion at the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ). Toe arthroplasty with k- wire fixation is the most common surgical approach in correcting deformities. Hammertoes increase peak plantar pressure and stress beneath the affected toes during gait, eventually leading to skin ulceration. However, the existing literature does not clarify how surgical correction redistributes the plantar pressure. The overall goal of this research study is to determine and compare peak plantar pressure and gait characteristics during walking in patients with hammertoes deformities for pre- and post-operative conditions.