Gomes, GonçaloLourenço, InêsOliveira, JoséGomes, MiguelVale, AlbertoPolicarpo, HugoQuental, PauloFreire, LuísMatos, José Pedro2017-03-072017-03-072017-02Gomes G, Lourenço I, Oliveira J, Gomes M, Freire L, Matos JF, et al. Structural reinforcements on AFO’s: a study using computer aided designing and finite element method. In: 5th Portuguese Meeting on Bioengineering (ENBENG), Coimbra, 16-18 fevereiro 2017.http://hdl.handle.net/10400.21/6846As state by the literature, is usual for thermoplastic AFO’s to open cracks as result of the undergoing stress forces of human gait. That mechanical stress forces trigger fractures areas on critical points, normally near the malleoli (see the picture below), as result as the range of movement of that specific region. David Showers and Lair David, claim that is possible to increase AFO’s resistence trough the inclusion of reinforcements (by waving the plastic) at the retromalleolar area. The purpose of this study is to verify the influence of the application of structural reinforcements has on the distribution of tension and deformation in an AFO in the stance phase of gait.engThermoplastic AFOAFOStructural reinforcementProstheticsconference object