Development of an Industrial Test Platform for Foot Health Device and Footwear Testing

Shahid, Zain

Abstract

The current development pathway for medical and non-medical foot health devices faces
challenges. Specifically, medical devices often proceed to clinical testing with limited
functional testing which can result in spiralling costs and ineffective products. The situation
is even more precarious for non-medical foot health devices, which often escape rigorous
scrutiny altogether as they are not mandated to undergo clinical trials.
The goal of this PhD was to develop an industrial test platform to address these shortcomings
by assessing foot health product performance against performance criteria relevant to those
used in clinical testing, and to compliment future clinical trials of products. To achieve this a
phantom-foot that closely replicates the form, material properties, and functional movement
of a human foot was developed and fitted to a KUKA KR160 robotic arm capable of
applying physiologically accurate loading conditions. These were coupled with a
measurement system to quantify the effects of orthotics and footwear on plantar pressure and
internal foot kinematics. The test platform was validated using experimental data from a
healthy population walking in a laboratory setting. The validated test platform was then used
to investigate the characteristics of two orthotic products available on the market and
compared against in-vivo participants.
This project was the first to use a foot model to test foot health products in an industrial
context. The key finding with respect to product performance was the reduction in peak and
average plantar pressures due to insole products (compared to a shoe-only condition).
However, there was no significant difference between the insole products when compared to
a neutral control insole. This challenges whether the specific product designs add any
performance value beyond a simple standardised insole design. Secondly, there was little to
no impact on the joint kinematics with the application of either insole product. Use of the
industrial test platform demonstrated how to use product performance criteria that are used to
inform product marketing/performance claims and help evolve future foot health product
designs, thus improving orthotic function for consumers. Foot joint segment kinematics were
different between test platform and simulated foot and in vivo feet and helps prioritise
developments for the next phase of the industrial test platform development (phantom-foot
and actuation control system).

Citation

Shahid, Z. (2024). Development of an Industrial Test Platform for Foot Health Device and Footwear Testing. (Thesis). The University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: May 23, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 1, 2024
• Award Date: May 31, 2024