A systematic review and meta-analysis on textile-based force sensing resistors in insoles and similar applications for pressure detection and gait analysis

Having in mind the goal of unobstructive, lightweight, and wearable electronics for monitoring human health, more precisely gait, textile-based force sensing resistors (FSRs) have emerged as a promising solution. These sensing elements can reliably detect plantar pressure and, through them, analyze gait, as well as continuously acquire large amounts of data, due to their flexibility, comfort, and adaptability compared with traditional rigid transducers. The review also sought to present in a tabular way quantitative outcomes, such as sensor accuracy, plantar pressure measurement, sensitivity, response time, and durability and to compare them in an objective manner. Through PubMed, IEEE Xplore, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, a comprehensive literature search was conducted. Inclusion criteria encompassed all original studies which pertain to textile-based FSR transducers incorporated into wearable devices for pressure detection and gait analysis, with reported quantitative outcomes. Reviews, patents and studies without experimental data were excluded from this research. Finally, risk of bias was evaluated as well, utilizing the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist for analytical cross-sectional studies. After going through the literature and filtering studies which conform to the defined criteria, a total of 24 studies were included. As sensor accuracy is one of the most significant quantitative parameters of sensor usefulness, a meta-analysis of this parameter revealed a pooled mean of 92.28% (95% CI: 88.65%–95.91%), indicating high reliability across different applications. Textile-based FSR transducers alongside readout electronic smart systems integrated into wearable technologies demonstrate high accuracy, reliability, and sensitivity, supporting their potential for clinical and sports applications.