Comparison of feetme insoles with a motion capture system coupled to force plates for assessing gait and posture

Traditional gait measurement systems are often limited by factors such as cost, complexity, prolonged setup times, and requirements for specialized training and expertise. Wearable pressure- and motion-sensing insoles have opened new possibilities for accessible gait analysis in real-life conditions. This study evaluated the equivalence of FeetMe insole measurements of gait parameters to those of a laboratory gold standard, optoelectronic motion capture system coupled to force platforms (MoCap/FP). Gait and posture parameters were assessed in 37 healthy adults by FeetMe insoles and by MoCap/FP system simultaneously. Means and variances were compared, and inter-device agreement was assessed for each parameter. Between-device equivalence was demonstrated for all parameters assessed (two one-sided t tests: P < .001). For static parameters, six of 13 variables presented excellent interclass correlation coefficients (ICCs ≥ 0.90) and three had good ICCs (≥ 0.75 to < 0.90). Moreover, 10 of 11 spatiotemporal parameters showed excellent accuracy (ICCs ≥ 0.90), and three of four kinetic parameters showed moderate-to-good accuracy (ICCs between 0.78 and 0.89). In summary, FeetMe can be considered as a valid gait measurement tool compared to the high precision MoCap/FP system and could be used in clinical practice to assess a wide range of gait and posture parameters, overcoming some limitations of traditional systems.