Development of a Monitoring System for Vertical Plantar Pressure Distribution during Human Walking

The foot absorbs the impacts produced by pressure exerted by the soil on the plantar area during walking. Online quantification of the plantar pressure distribution provides information of the state and function of the human biostructures, which is used as clinical and research tool for the human walking analysis, as well as an objective parameter for risk prevention in pressure ulcers formation. In this project, the development of a system for continuous monitoring of vertical plantar pressures during gait is proposed. The system is based on a two-part insole instrumented with eight piezoresistive force sensors distributed in areas with the highest plant pressure during walking. The data is transmitted through wireless communication to a graphical interface for objective visualization, analysis, and storage.