Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
PLoS One. 2020 Aug 7;15(8):e0237090. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237090. eCollection 2020.
Plantar pressure force data derived from gait and posture are commonly used as health indicators for foot diagnosis, injury prevention, and rehabilitation. This study developed a wearable plantar pressure force measurement and analysis (WPPFMA) system based on a flexible sensor matrix film to monitor plantar pressure force in real time. The developed system comprised a flexible sensor matrix film embedded in the insole of the shoe, a wearable data acquisition (DAQ) device with a Bluetooth module, and dedicated software with an intuitive graphical user interface for displaying the plantar pressure force data from receivers by using a terminal unit (laptop or smart-phone). The flexible sensor matrix film integrated 16 piezoresistive cell sensors to detect pressure force at different anatomical zones of the plantar and under different body positions. The signals from the flexible sensor matrix film were collected using the DAQ module embedded in the shoe and transmitted to the receivers through Bluetooth. The real-time display and analysis software can monitor, visualize, and record the detailed plantar pressure force data, such as average pressure force, maximum pressure force, and pressure force distributions and variations over time. The outcomes of the trials in which the system was worn revealed the applicability of the developed WPPFMA system for monitoring plantar pressure force under static and dynamic wearing conditions. The plantar pressure force data derived from this system provide valuable insights for personal foot care, gait analysis, and clinical diagnosis.
足底压力测力数据来源于步态和姿势，通常被用作足部诊断、损伤预防和康复的健康指标。本研究开发了一种基于柔性传感器矩阵薄膜的可穿戴足底压力测力测量和分析（WPPFMA）系统，以实时监测足底压力。所开发的系统包括嵌入鞋中底的柔性传感器矩阵薄膜、具有蓝牙模块的可穿戴数据采集（DAQ）设备以及专用软件，该软件具有直观的图形用户界面，用于通过终端单元（笔记本电脑或智能手机）显示来自接收器的足底压力测力数据。柔性传感器矩阵薄膜集成了 16 个压阻式单元传感器，用于检测足底不同解剖区域和不同身体位置的压力。传感器矩阵薄膜的信号由嵌入鞋中的 DAQ 模块采集，并通过蓝牙传输到接收器。实时显示和分析软件可以监测、可视化和记录详细的足底压力测力数据，例如平均压力、最大压力以及压力随时间的分布和变化。系统在静态和动态穿着条件下进行的试验结果表明，所开发的 WPPFMA 系统适用于监测足底压力。该系统得出的足底压力测力数据为个人足部护理、步态分析和临床诊断提供了有价值的信息。
