Sensing stability and dynamic response of the F-Scan in-shoe sensing system: a technical note

The objective of this study was to gain a better understanding of the F-Scan to determine its appropriate clinical application. Vertical pressure was applied to a sensor foil over the range of 10-80 kPa with or without the intervention of 0.2-0.8 mm thick felt. Sensor sensitivity reached a maximum without the felt, and decreased with increasing felt thickness, stabilizing at 48-74% of the maximum level when felt thickness exceeded 0.4 mm. This sensitivity change was caused by the slight difference in thickness of sensing areas from that of non-sensing areas. Dynamic response time was delayed by a mean of 0.32 s. Although the cause of this dynamic response delay remains unclear, it was considered to be inappropriate for accurate dynamic measurements. Therefore, rather than using F-Scan measurement to accurately obtain actual values, it should be used for relative comparisons of the plantar pressure distributions under constant conditions.