Regina Dominican Math Students Construct Prosthetic Legs

Most mathematics teachers can recall a time when a student asked, “When am I ever going to use this?” The Regina Dominican mathematics department answered this question with an innovative construction project in which students created and designed prototypes of a prosthetic leg.

Before construction, pre-calc. students took a scientific turn by researching the nervous, muscular and skeletal systems that make up the lower leg. Students also investigated the different joint types in leg so that they could mathematically support the strength, flexibility and range of motion available in a human leg. Biomedical engineering students from Northwestern, including alumna Leona Maliakal ’12, visited math classes and provided some insight.

The project brought to light the practicalities of calculus in engineering prostheses. Students constructed their full-scale prosthetic prototype and evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of their design. The ankle joint had to move through a 60 degree angular range of motion and return to a perpendicular position on it’s own. The toe joint also needed a range of motion. Finally, students had to construct a prosthetic to support weight without breaking or buckling.

By merging the subjects of science and math, these Regina Dominican students can understand the full importance of mathematics in the technology people use everyday.