Development of Plantar Pressure Distribution Measurement Shoe Insole with Built-in Printed Curved Sensor Structure

Foot plantar pressure measurement is one of the most promising approaches for diagnosing foot problems at an early stage for injury prevention and general wellbeing. Information can be derived from the pressure created between the human foot and the support surface in contact with it. This data can be used in gait and posture monitoring for research applications in medical fields, sports, and footwear design. Therefore, it is important to develop an accurate and reliable foot plantar pressure measurement system. This paper presents the development of a plantar pressure measurement insole with embedded printed flexible piezoresistive sensors. The sensing elements of the insole were made from the dispensing of a carbon-based composite with curvilinear shapes. The insole was proved to be suitable for measuring the high-pressure distribution of the different areas of a subject’s foot. Tests to compare the effect of the length of the printed sensors on their performance were carried out. Based on the found results, customizable flexible insoles can be fabricated following the pressure of different regions under the foot.