Related Experiment Videos
A portable insole plantar pressure measurement system
J J Wertsch1, J G Webster, W J Tompkins
1Rehabilitation Medicine Service, Clement J. Zablocki Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI 53295.
Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development
|January 1, 1992
Summary
We developed an affordable, portable system for long-term plantar pressure measurement during daily activities. This system uses insole sensors to capture detailed foot pressure data over extended periods.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Biomedical Engineering
- Wearable Technology
Background:
- Analyzing plantar pressures during daily activities requires portable, long-term measurement capabilities.
- Existing systems may lack portability or the capacity for extended data acquisition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present an inexpensive, reliable, and portable system for acquiring plantar pressure data.
- To enable long-term, natural measurement of foot pressures during activities of daily living.
Main Methods:
- Development of a portable, battery-powered data acquisition system with microprocessor control.
- Integration of 14 thin (0.25 mm), overload-resistant conductive polymer pressure sensors into insoles.
- Data collection at a 20 Hz sample frequency for 5 seconds every minute over a 2-hour period, storing data in 480 kbytes memory.
Main Results:
- The developed system allows for long-term (up to 2 hours) recording of pressure-time data.
- The system successfully captures plantar pressure from 14 sensors in an unrestricted environment.
- The conductive polymer sensors are thin, durable, and cost-effective.
Conclusions:
- The described portable insole system provides a viable solution for long-term plantar pressure analysis.
- This technology facilitates unobtrusive measurement of foot pressures during natural activities.
- The system's design offers a cost-effective approach to studying gait and foot biomechanics.