DAP Team Blog Post-Annabel M. Anabel P. Savannah G. Cynthia R.

We are group AACS. Our team consists of Annabel M., the monitor/evaluator, Cynthia R., the solver, Anabel P., the shaper, and Savannah G., the team worker. We all chose our roles according to our strengths and weaknesses.

We were presented with the DAP and the goal is to make a working prototype of a device designed to prevent the injury of a specific joint. We have a new group and a fresh start. Last semester’s project on TBI’s brought some difficulty with time management and communication. This semester we will put more effort into the project, making sure that everything is clear to the reader, and that we manage our time to get all work done in a timely manner. We will stride to put in effort and work cooperatively to accomplish our goals.

Based upon our initial interest, our team is wants to make a product to help a customer protect their knee joint. This joint is concerned with some frequently seen sports injuries in football, soccer, volleyball, etc. The knee joint is a hinge joint because one convex (rounded) surface fits into the concave (inward) surface of another, only allowing motion in one plain. The knee has an extension joint motion, allowing someone to move their leg along the coronal plane. The articulating bones of the knee are the femur and the tibia. The knee also consists of other parts, important for its movement as shown below with an image by WebMD, click link for more information.

Types of injuries to the knee include sprains, strains, and injuries to the ligaments and tendons that connect and support the kneecap. Without getting the proper treatment for these injuries, no matter how small can lead to worse problems later on in life.

If you do happen to have an injury to the knee there are already many different types of knee braces that could help such as the McDavid Ligament Knee Support and the DonJoy ELS 50 degree Flexion Stop ONLY. We hope to use these knee braces and others as a base to help us come up with our own revolutionary idea to help runners with their knee injuries.