Validation of the wearable sensor system - MoveSole® smart insoles

Authors

• Antti Alamäki Karelia University of Applied Sciences, Finland
• Elina Nevala Karelia University of Applied Sciences, Finland
• Juha Jalovaara Karelia University of Applied Sciences, Finland
• John Barton Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork, Ireland
• Salvatore Tedesco Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork, Ireland
• Joan Condell Intelligent Systems Research Centre, Ulster University, Magee Campus, Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland, UK
• Karla Muñoz Esquivel Intelligent Systems Research Centre, Ulster University, Magee Campus, Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland, UK
• Daniel Kelly Intelligent Systems Research Centre, Ulster University, Magee Campus, Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland, UK
• David Heaney Intelligent Systems Research Centre, Ulster University, Magee Campus, Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland, UK
• James Gillespie Intelligent Systems Research Centre, Ulster University, Magee Campus, Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland, UK
• Shvan Karim Intelligent Systems Research Centre, Ulster University, Magee Campus, Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland, UK
• Richard Davies Jordanstown Campus, Ulster University, UK
• Anna Nordström Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Sweden and School of Sport Sciences , The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
• Markus Åkerlund Larsson Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Sweden and School of Sport Sciences

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23996/fjhw.95776

Keywords:

gait analysis, smart insoles, validation [http://www.yso.fi/onto/yso/p20652], rehabilitation [http://www.yso.fi/onto/yso/p3320], health technology

Abstract

Biomechanical analysis of gait is commonly used in physiotherapy. Ground reaction forces during phases of gait is one element of kinetic analysis. In this article, we analyze if the MoveSole® smart insole is valid and accurate equipment for measuring ground reaction forces in clinical physiotherapy. MoveSole® StepLab is a mobile measurement system for instant underfoot force measurements during gait. Unique electromagnetic film (EMFI) based sensor technology and printed electronics production technology is integrated in the MoveSole® StepLab measurement system. The MoveSole® StepLab measures plantar ground reaction force distribution over the sensors and provides an estimation of the maximum total ground reaction force.

We developed a two phase validation process to extract relevant parameters and compared the results to a Kistler force plate using the BioWare® analyzing program as a reference method. Our results show that MoveSole® smart insoles reach the strong level of accuracy needed in clinical work concerning highest ground reaction forces during step (Pearson correlation .822 - .875). The correlation of the time when the maximum ground reaction force occurred was moderate, e.g. during heel strike or toe-off (Pearson correlation natural gait speed .351 - .462, maximum gait speed .430). Our conclusion is that MoveSole® smart insoles are a potential tool for analyzing and monitoring gait ground reaction forces during physiotherapy processes.