Development of Planter Foot Pressure Distribution System Using Flexi Force Sensors

Abstract

Diabetes brings with it neurovascular complications, which results in development of high pressure areas. Patients with diabetic polyneuropathy often lose pain and temperature sensations in their feet, resulting in inadequate information about pressure under the feet, during walking or standing. This may cause injury in the feet; at times accidentally, painless trauma develops and results in ulceration. Repetitive injury may also produce bone changes, causing the foot to become deformed. It is thus very important to locate such areas using pressure distribution measurement system. A detailed study of the pressure distribution on the sole of the foot in static position is carried out. In this paper the low cost planter foot pressure system is developed to measure foot pressures in normal subjects and diabetic patients. These pressure profiles i.e. pressure concentrations can assist in writing proper orthotic prescriptions. Pressure profile of 37 diabetic and 33 normal subjects is analyzed. The initial results indicate pressures in range of 50 to 400 KPa for normal subject, higher pressures i.e. above 600 KPa at metatarsal heads for diabetic patients