LIGĀRE

IMG_0349 copy.jpg
 
 
 

LIGĀre is An exoskeleton technology that inserts into athletic footwears for athletes to perform at the highest level without compromising safety

Taking inspiration from the structure of horse legs, LIGĀRE is designed to reduce the risk of inversion and eversion ankle sprains by augmenting the human leg in strengthening the ankle with structural supports to take pressure off the knee as knee and ankle injuries are the most prominant sport injuries.

 

PROBLEMS WITH SPORT INJURIES AND ANKLE BRACES OFFERED ON THE MARKET

The problem is that sport injuries are happening at a high percentage regardless of age and intensity. 

Human biological structures are not made for intensive activities such as competitive sports but the increase in interest in sports is valuable in that it promotes a healthy lifestyle mentally and physically. Hightop basketball shoes do not move with the biomechanics of our ankle but the ankle braces on the market are either too rigid which takes away our ability to be mobile or they are not structural enough to reinforce stability.   

shoe.jpg
 
 
Untitled-5.jpg

NATURAL REFERENCE

When I started the research on natural references, I looked into mammals that are known to move in fast and agile ways like athletes. My list of reference included cheetahs, gazelles, coyotes, pronghorns and horses. After looking into digitigrades, I realized that their form of contact with the ground is completely different than humans as we land on our sole and we don’t run with mere toes. Cheetahs as well as gazelles utilize the splitting of their hooves/paws to give them support for when they change directions.

From my research, I found that horses share many similarities with humans in the way their hooves mimick the single sole concept of athletic footwear.

 
IMG_6632.jpg
Ligare Process Book9.jpg
Ligare Process Book7.jpg
Ligare Process Book8.jpg
I talked to the head athletic trainer, Emily Bisch, and learned about proper treatment for syndesmosis sprains. I looked for ankle brace with Emily for the men's basketball team and learned about what is lacking in current brace designs.

I talked to the head athletic trainer, Emily Bisch, and learned about proper treatment for syndesmosis sprains. I looked for ankle brace with Emily for the men's basketball team and learned about what is lacking in current brace designs.

Untitled-1.jpg

mechanism prototypes

Testing different structural supports and angle locking systems.

Ligare Process Book15.jpg
ligare2.jpg
LIGARE_web.jpg
IMG_0353.JPG
IMG_0352 copy.jpg
IMG_0344-Recovered.jpg
37061.jpg

Cooper hewitt

Presented and exhibited design at the Cooper Hewitt