In-Shoe Tactile Pressure and Force Measurement System Used to Evaluate, Analyze and Treat Foot, Walking and Posture Related Injuries and Problems. Norman Murphy, Ph.D. Tactile pressure and force measurement systems provide clinicians with a tool to evaluate, analyze and treat foot, walking and posture related injuries and problems. These are often referred to as biomechanical disorders. The F-Scan ® System captures in-shoe pressure and force information acting on the plantar surface (or bottom) of the feet, and this while the person is walking. The person could also be standing still, running or jumping, such as in different types of activities. The information obtained reveals on how the feet are functioning and the pattern (or style) of walking. This allows clinicians to “see inside the shoe” and “better understand” the factors that affect and perturb function of the foot, the walking style and posture. Ideal treatment is then prescribed to best address the biomechanical disorders.

How Does This Work? Norman Murphy, Ph.D. Image of a sensorSensor inserted inside the shoes  The sensor is inserted inside the shoe, with one sensor in each shoe.  The sensors are connected to a cuff.  The cuffs are connected to a computer with a cable.

How Does This Work? Norman Murphy, Ph.D. Images and graphs displayed on the computer screen  As the subject walks, the sensors measure the load acting on the plantar surface (bottom) of the foot inside the shoe.  The measures are transmitted to the computer.  The computer then calculates the pressures and the forces, and these are displayed in images and graphs on the computer screen. Subject walks

What Do The Images Show? Norman Murphy, Ph.D.  A Color Column can be displayed as a Legend to indicate the amount of pressure for each of the respective colors.  The number in each of the colors indicate the amount of pressure in pounds per square inch.  The colored images are referred to as Pressure Profiles.  These show the amount of pressure in color acting on the plantar surface of the feet while walking.  Blue indicates the lowest pressure while red indicates the highest pressure. Left Foot Right Foot

What Do The Pressure Profiles Reveal? Norman Murphy, Ph.D.  The Pressure Profiles shown are those for the peak or maximum pressure under the plantar foot during stance (or step) 2 while walking.  In this example, the left foot experiences higher pressures in the forefoot (ball of the foot) than that of the right foot.  There is also more pressure on the lateral side (outside) of the left foot in the middle area than that of the right foot.  This reveals that the pressure pattern of the feet are not symmetrical.  In normal and non perturbed walking, the pressure patterns are symmetrical. Left Foot Right Foot

What Do The Pressure Profiles Reveal? Norman Murphy, Ph.D.  The trailing line is referred to as the Center of Force (CoF) trajectory. It represents the path that foot is traveling while pivoting (rotating and moving) against the ground.  The left foot CoF trajectory exhibits a letter C shape pattern, while the right foot CoF exhibits that of a straighter line.  This reveals that the pivoting pattern of the feet against the ground are not symmetrical.  In normal and non perturbed walking, the CoF trajectories are symmetrical. Left Foot Right Foot

What Do the Graphs Show? Norman Murphy, Ph.D.  The graphs are referred to as Force versus Time Graphs.  They display the forces acting on the plantar surface of the feet for the total time the walking was measured.  Graph 1 displays the total force acting on the left foot (green line) and the total force acting on the right foot (red line).  Graph 2 is for the left foot and displays the total force acting on the left foot (green line), the force acting on the left heel (red line) and the force acting on the left forefoot or ball of the foot (magenta line).  Graph 3 is for the right foot and displays the total force acting on the right foot (red line), the force acting on the right heel (green line) and the force acting on the right forefoot or ball of the foot (magenta line).

What Do The Graphs Reveal? Norman Murphy, Ph.D.  In this example, the Force versus Time curves in Graph 1 for the left foot (green curve) are higher than that for the right foot (red curve) while walking.  This reveals that the impact or loading pattern of the feet are not symmetrical while walking.  The left foot and left side of the body are experiencing higher impacts (forces) than the right foot and right side of the body.  In normal and non perturbed walking, the pattern of the curves are symmetrical.  The left foot and left side of the body, and the right foot and right side of the body also experience symmetrical impacts (forces) in normal and non perturbed walking.

What Do The Graphs Reveal? Norman Murphy, Ph.D.  Graph 2 is for the left foot. The rise and fall of the curve for the left heel (red line) and the left forefoot or ball of the foot (magenta line) are not smooth-up and smooth-down.  There is slanting in the curves.  This reveals that the pivoting pattern at the left heel and at the left forefoot are not smooth, and therefore perturbed.  In normal and non perturbed walking, the pattern of the curves are smooth-up and smooth-down, and without slanting.

What Do The Graphs Reveal? Norman Murphy, Ph.D.  Graph 3 is for the right foot. The rise and fall of the curve for the left forefoot or ball of the foot (magenta line) is not smooth-up and smooth-down.  There is slanting in the curve.  This reveals that the pivoting pattern at the right forefoot is not smooth, and therefore perturbed.  In normal and non perturbed walking, the pattern of the curves are smooth-up and smooth-down, and without slanting.

As mentioned earlier, in-shoe pressure and force information acting on the plantar surface (or bottom) of the feet can also be obtained for standing still, running or jumping. Illustrated below in the video clip is an example of a running trial. Norman Murphy, Ph.D.

In Summary Norman Murphy, Ph.D.  The F-Scan ® in-shoe pressure and force measurement system provides clinicians with a tool to evaluate, analyze and treat foot, walking and posture related injuries and problems. These are often referred to as biomechanical disorders.  The information obtained reveals on how the feet are functioning and the pattern (or style) of walking.  This allows clinicians to “see inside the shoe” and “better understand” the factors that affect and perturb function of the foot, the walking style and posture. Ideal treatment is then prescribed to best address the biomechanical disorders.