An insole type local shear force measurement system was developed and local shear stresses in the foot were measured during level walking. The shear force transducer based on the magneto-resistive principle, was a rigid 3-layer circular disc. Sensor calibrations with a specially designed calibration device showed that it provided relatively linear sensor outputs. Shear transducers were mounted on the locations of four metatarsal heads and heel in the insole. Sensor outputs were amplified, decorded in the bluetooth transmission part and then transferred to PC. In order to evaluate the developed system, both shear and plantar pressure measurements, synchronized with the three-dimensional motion analysis system, were performed on twelve young healthy male subjects, walking at their comfortable speeds.
The maximum peak pressure during gait was 5.00kPa/B.W. at the heel. The time when large local shear stresses were acted correlated well with the time of fast COP movements. The anteroposterior shear was dominant near the COP trajectory, but the mediolateral shear was noted away from the COP trajectory. The vector sum of shear stresses revealed a strong correlation with COP movement velocity.
The present study will be helpful to select the material and to design of foot orthoses and orthopedic shoes for diabetic neuropathy or Hansen disease.
