Non-electronic measurement of plantar pressure during weightbearing activities of daily living

This study tests the feasibility of a cost-effective concept for measuring plantar pressure in people with diabetic foot during activities of daily living. A 3D-printable cushioning material with complex mechanical behaviour was produced and tested. The results indicated that mapping the changes in the mechanical behaviour of the cushioning material can reveal if the loading was above or below a predefined tuneable threshold. This material could be used in footwear to enhance diabetic foot risk assessment and inform the design of offloading interventions by identifying areas of the foot that are overloaded.