Wearable shoes can provide a variety of health care functions beyond just gait analysis. Since the feet are the center of balance and movement of the body, and are closely related to full-body health, the information available through wearables is very diverse and useful.
In addition to gait analysis, I will explain in detail the health care functions that shoe-type wearables can provide.

1. Balance Measurement and Fall Risk Detection:

• By utilizing pressure sensors and accelerometers embedded in the shoes, it’s possible to analyze weight distribution, foot pressure distribution, and swaying during walking to measure balance.
• Since poor balance is a major cause of falls, analyzing the measured data can predict fall risk and provide warnings to users. This is especially useful for elderly individuals or patients with balance disorders.
• For example, if excessive side-to-side swaying is detected during walking, or if excessive pressure is concentrated on only one foot, the system can determine that the fall risk is high and send an alert to the user.

2. Foot Health Monitoring:

• By measuring arch shape, foot pressure distribution, and changes in foot temperature and humidity, it’s possible to monitor foot health.
• The system can detect early signs of potential foot problems such as plantar fasciitis, bunions, and flat feet and guide users to take appropriate action.
• For example, if continuous pressure is applied to a specific area, the system can warn of the risk of plantar fasciitis and recommend insole replacement or rest. It can also detect early signs of foot conditions like athlete’s foot by sensing changes in foot temperature.

3. Posture Correction:

• In addition to gait analysis, analyzing foot pressure distribution and weight shifting can assess user posture and provide feedback to correct poor posture.
• For example, if excessive weight is placed on only one foot while walking, the system can detect postural imbalance and provide guidelines for proper walking posture.
• This is useful for professions that require prolonged standing or walking and can help prevent musculoskeletal disorders caused by poor posture.

4. Rehabilitation Training Support:

• During post-surgery or post-injury rehabilitation, shoe-type wearables can monitor the patient’s gait in real time and objectively evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation training.
• By analyzing the patient’s gait pattern, stride length, and foot pressure distribution, the system can provide personalized rehabilitation programs and adjust the program based on the training progress.
• For example, during rehabilitation training for a patient recovering from ankle surgery, the system can monitor the ankle angle and weight distribution in real time to guide proper rehabilitation.

5. Other Health Management Features:

• Activity Tracking and Calorie Expenditure Estimation: Using existing gait analysis functions, the system can measure steps taken, distance traveled, and activity duration and estimate calorie expenditure based on this data.
• Exercise Effectiveness Analysis: By analyzing foot movement and pressure changes during various exercises, the system can evaluate exercise effectiveness and provide personalized exercise guidance.
• Fatigue Measurement: By analyzing changes in foot pressure and temperature after prolonged walking or activity, the system can measure user fatigue and recommend rest.

As you can see, shoe-type wearables have the potential to provide various benefits not only for foot health but also for overall health management. As technology continues to develop, even more diverse health management features are expected to be added.