Pregnancy-related transverse arch deformation: a subject-specific finite element analysis of the contributions of body weight and tissue stiffness
Xin Li, Zhenghui Lu, Yufei Fang, Gusztáv Fekete, Dong Sun, Yaodong Gu · 2026
Read Pregnancy-related transverse arch deformation: a subject-specific finite element analysis of the contributions of body weight and tissue stiffness by Xin Li, Zhenghui Lu, Yufei Fang, Gusztáv Fekete, Dong Sun, Yaodong Gu (2026) in the Tower of Babel, a free online library of public-domain works preserved in clean, searchable text. No sign-up. The full text is served as a plain-text file at a predictable URL, where text is present: https://antarctic-labs.com/tower-of-babel/PMC13479715.txt.
Description
Xin Li and coauthors published a 2026 computer modeling study separating two pregnancy effects on the foot's transverse arch: heavier body weight and softer tissues. Both arrive together in real pregnancy, which is why clinical studies cannot tell them apart. Weight gain loads the foot more, while hormonal changes loosen ligaments and other passive tissues.
A foot model built from one participant's CT scans was tested in a full factorial design, varying weight and stiffness independently. Predictions checked out against in-shoe pressure measurements from the same person. The simulations quantify how much arch flattening each factor explains alone and together. Results could guide footwear and support advice aimed at the true driver of pregnancy foot pain and instability.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Xin Li, Zhenghui Lu, Yufei Fang, Gusztáv Fekete, Dong Sun, Yaodong Gu |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 48328 |
| LICENSE | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |