A QUASI-LINEAR VISCOELASTIC MODEL OF FOOT-ANKLE LIGAMENTS

Experimental Procedure. Five fresh-frozen lower-limb cadaver specimens were obtained, and the following bone-ligamentbone specimens were prepared: inferior calcaneonavicular (ICN), long plantar (LP), plantar first-cuneiform first-metatarsal (PFCFM), and posterior tibiotalar (PTT). The LP ligament was not harvested beyond its initial insertion into the cuboid. Ligaments were potted in polymethylmethacrylate and tested on an MTS Materials Testing System (MTS Systems Corporation, Eden Prairie, MN). Specimens were preconditioned to maximum passive physiologic strain, defined by measuring ligament displacement from neutral position of cadaver limb to maximum passive eversion, inversion, planterflexion, dorsiflexion, internal rotation and external rotation.