Development of a quantitative in-shoe measurement system for assessing balance: sixteen-sensor insoles.
This work presents the first phase in the development of an in-shoe sensor system designed to evaluate balance. Sixteen force-sensitive resistors were strategically mounted to a removable insole, and the bilateral outputs were recorded. The initial results indicate that these sensors are capable of detecting subtle changes in weight distribution, corresponding to the subject's ability to balance. Preliminary analysis of this data found a clear correlation between the ability to balance and the state of health of the subject.
Bamberg
Stacy M
SM
Dept. of Mech. Eng., Utah Univ., Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA. sbamberg@eng.utah.edu
Lastayo
Paul
P
Dibble
Lee
L
Musselman
Josh
J
Raghavendra
Swarna Kiran Dasa
SK
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004867:Equipment Design; D005528:Foot / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009068:Movement; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012775:Shoes; D012984:Software; D016138:Walking; D016474:Weight-Bearing