Integrating Population-level 4D Body Scanning and Subject-Specific Finite Element Modeling for Biomechanical Analysis of Compression Leggings on Lower Limbs

Author : Joanne Yip

Abstract : Compression leggings are widely used to enhance athletic performance by stabilizing soft tissue and improving circulation. A comprehensive biomechanical understanding of their effects on the lower limbs is crucial for optimized design. However, existing models often struggle to balance subject specificity with population generalizability. This study addresses this challenge by integrating population-level 4D body scanning with subject-specific finite element (FE) modeling. Using 4D body scanning and a novel anthropometric image recognition method, we quantified lower limb soft tissue deformation in 60 female participants wearing five distinct compression legging designs under both static and dynamic conditions. Principal component analysis (PCA) and K-means clustering identified three biomechanical categories based on anthropometric and body composition data. For each category, MRI based FE models were developed for representative subjects, incorporating nine segmented muscle groups with region-specific hyperelastic properties. Simulations revealed category-dependent differences in interface pressure, tissue deformation, and muscle stress, which were validated experimentally with errors of 15.4% for pressure and 16.0% for deformation. This integrated framework enables both generalizable and precise biomechanical evaluation, offering robust guidelines for material selection and design optimization in compression leggings.

Keywords : The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. The work is supported by the RGC General Research Fund [Project Number: 15602123] titled “3D Biomechanical Model with Soft Tissue Deformation for Leggings Design and Evaluation”.

Conference Name : International Conference on Biomechanical Analysis of Athletic Movements and Performance (ICBAAMP - 26)

Conference Place : Paris, France

Conference Date : 19th Feb 2026