Foot and Ankle Biomechanics

Associate Professor at Center for Limb Loss and Mobility (CLIMB) at the University of Washington

Dr. Ledoux's research has been devoted to preventing limb loss, either functionally or anatomically. He has 18 years professional experience in this research field. He has used CT, MRI, motion analysis, and more recently, a custom developed biplane fluoroscope, to quantify reduced lower limb function (i.e., functional limb loss) in different foot types (flat feet and high arched) compared to neutrally aligned feet. He has studied the functional aspects of various orthopedic foot maladies using the custom developed Robotic Gait Simulator. Additionally, he has explored functional differences between ankle fusion and ankle joint replacement for end-stage ankle arthritis. Anatomical limb loss prevention has involved quantifying the mechanical, histological and biochemical differences between normal and diabetic plantar soft tissue and foot ligaments. Dr. Ledoux has also developed a patient-specific finite element foot model, including customized anatomy and tissue properties, for the purpose of quantifying the effects of increased tissue stiffness and foot deformity on internal tissue stresses.
Scott Telfer is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine at the University of Washington, Seattle with affiliate positions at the Center for Limb Loss and MoBility (CLiMB), VA Puget Sound, Seattle, and the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle. He has spent the last 10 years studying the biomechanics of the foot and ankle with a focus on orthotic interventions, computational simulation, and measurement technologies.