The FeetMe^® Insoles System: Repeatability, Standard Error of Measure, and Responsiveness

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Wearable technology
• Gait analysis

Background:

• Optoelectronic systems are standard for gait analysis but limited in ecological settings.
• Wearable devices offer an alternative for in-home and real-world gait assessments.
• Limited metrological data exists for wearable gait analysis systems regarding repeatability and sensitivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the metrological properties of the FeetMe® system for gait analysis.
• To assess the repeatability and sensitivity to change of instrumented insoles.

Main Methods:

• A healthy adult completed 6-minute walking tests using FeetMe® insoles.
• Data was collected under various overground and treadmill conditions.
• Standard Error of Measurement (SEM), Minimum Detectable Differences (MDDs), and Effect Size (ES) were calculated.

Main Results:

• SEM values were below 3.9% for ground reaction force and 6.8% for spatio-temporal parameters.
• High Effect Size (ES > 1.2) was observed in 72.9% of overground vs. treadmill conditions with asymmetry.
• Minimum Detectable Differences ranged from 4.5% to 18.9% across parameters.

Conclusions:

• The FeetMe® system proves to be a reliable solution for gait analysis.
• The system's sensitivity allows for effective monitoring of patient asymmetry and treatment progress.