Smart Shoe

Abstract

Many people who have an improper gait pattern, when engaged in rigorous running, jumping, climbing steps etc. develop a strain over plantar areas and the heels of the foot that may worsen over age, due to the impact made by the foot on the ground. As most gait analyses systems are often bulky and cost prohibitive in usage, the paper focuses on developing a prototype of Smart Shoe a device easy to use for the detecting improper gaits in real-time. Foot position during swing and stance phase is monitored by two accelerometers and the pressure points are monitored by the five pressure sensors embedded in the shoe. The observation in 5 normal subjects, made to walk on a treadmill, wearing the prototype, and the walking pattern data recorded and an interpretation done under the guidance of a physiotherapist, has been discussed. The data recorded is in graphical form for efficient analysis shows individual’s walking pattern, swing of foot and load/impact on different parts of the foot, as the subject walks.