Analysis of Foot-Ground Interaction for Assessment of Various Related Diseases and a Sole Design to Solve These Issues

The direct contact with the Earth's surface, or grounding, has been studied to have potential beneficial effects on human health. However, there is limited research on establishing a connection through the foot, which is usually a person's most common interaction with the ground. This paper presents an investigation into the interplay between the human foot and the ground, the effects of grounding on various diseases, and proposes a novel sole design as a potential solution. Using copper as the main link for the earthing sole, the difference between a regular sole and the proposed sole is highlighted with force analysis and temperature tests. The results show the proposed sole does not adversely impact human foot while providing the benefits of grounding studied. The sole is the first step to a novel shoe design that can allow humans to enjoy the benefits of grounding without giving up the comfort of footwear. This analysis aims to provide targeted insights for healthcare and footwear engineering professionals alike.