CUSTOMIZED WEARABLE SENSOR-BASED INSOLES FOR GAIT RE-TRAINING IN IDIOPATHIC TOE WALKERS

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Gait Analysis
• Rehabilitation Technology

Background:

• Idiopathic toe walking (ITW) is a common gait abnormality in children, characterized by a lack of heel strike during walking.
• ITW affects 5-12% of healthy children in the US, necessitating early intervention for corrective gait training.
• Current interventions may not fully address the habitual nature of toe-toe gait in affected children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel wearable insole system for providing tactile corrective feedback to individuals with idiopathic toe walking.
• To assess the efficacy of vibration biofeedback in promoting a heel-toe gait pattern.
• To explore the potential of wearable sensor technology in gait rehabilitation for ITW.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involving five participants (13±4 years) with ITW was conducted.
• Customized insoles were equipped with pressure sensors, inertial measurement units, and a vibration tactor for real-time feedback.
• Vibration biofeedback was triggered by three consecutive instances of toe-toe strikes during walking.

Main Results:

• Participants showed an increased average proportion of heel strikes after intervention, ranging from 53% to 67%.
• The median time for return to a habitual toe-toe gait after feedback was 13 seconds.
• All subjects reported the insoles were helpful and motivating for gait correction.

Conclusions:

• The developed wearable insole with tactile corrective feedback shows promise as an innovative intervention for idiopathic toe walking.
• This technology can aid physical therapists in developing new gait training methods for ITW.
• Wearable sensors offer a novel approach to address habitual gait patterns and improve outcomes in pediatric gait disorders.