Exploring the Assessment of Steps Using Insoles ​with Four-part Pressure Sensors

Abstract

This study focused on the potential use of smart insoles incorporating four-part pressure sensors in the field of rehabilitation. The assessment of walking not only addresses walking issues but also contributes to understanding a person’s health condition because the health condition manifests in the manner a person walk. With the aim of assessing the influence of activity on the body using digital devices, we investigated walking steps before and after using a walking rehabilitation robot using a wireless smart insole with four pressure sensors on each side and an accelerometer attached to the shoe. This study explored the disparities in the arrangement of pressure sensor data integrated into the insole, differences resulting from analysis methods, and their relationship with the accelerometer were investigated. The analysis results for the walking steps before robot attachment, during robot-assisted walking, and after robot attachment of distinctive features for each of the four parts of the insole demonstrate the potential of the pressure-sensor-equipped smart insole in detecting changes in walking patterns.

Keywords

• smart insole
• accelerometer
• activity assessment
• gait change detection
• rehabilitation