Development of an Orthopedic Insole with Pressure Sensors for Automated Assessment of Flat Foot in Children

Flatfoot is a common condition primarily affecting children, in which the arch of the foot does not develop properly, which can lead to pain and gait problems. Traditionally, orthopedists evaluate this condition using devices such as a podoscope, which rely on subjective observation to determine the degree of flatfoot, and the arch height needed for an appropriate orthotic insole. This approach, however, has limitations due to its imprecision and variability among clinicians. The present study aims to develop a prototype orthotic insole equipped with pressure sensors to determine the degree of arch in flatfoot patients, focusing on children aged 5 to 10 years. The prototype integrates resistive sensors connected to a microcontroller, which collects pressure data on the arch of the foot, which are processed by software to generate an accurate analysis. The results obtained are compared with traditional methods, showing high accuracy in detecting the degree of flatfoot, providing objective data for the development of customized orthopedic insoles.