Miniature load cells for the measurement of foot-ground reaction forces and centre of foot pressure during gait

Abstract

A knowledge of the function of the foot is essential for an understanding of the mechanics of gait. In particular it is necessary to measure the forces, and their directions, between the foot and the ground. Miniature shoe borne load cells were used to measure the centre of foot pressure of a normal subject, a below knee amputee and a polio patient. An analysis of the resulting force patterns has been found useful as a measure of a subject's functional mobility. This paper describes a system which has been developed to measure and analyse the distribution of the forces acting on the foot of a polio patient, an amputee and group of normal subjects.