Development of Plantar-Pressure Estimation Method Based on Continuous Plantar Images

Authors

  • Yuka Iijima Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
  • Takeshi Yamakoshi Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
  • Hiroshi Mizoguchi Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
  • Hiroshi Takemura Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14738/jbemi.31.1866

Keywords:

Plantar image, Plantar pressure, Brightness distribution, CaTTaP

Abstract

We propose a novel plantar-pressure estimation method using high-resolution plantar images. The proposed method can calculate the plantar-pressure distribution, ground reaction force, and center-of-pressure (COP) trajectory based on the weight of a subject, contact-area size, and brightness distribution of a plantar image captured by a high-speed camera. Four experiments are conducted to evaluate the proposed method. First, the relationship between the contact area/pressure condition and brightness distribution of the image is investigated. The result shows that the brightness increases according to the area size under the same pressure condition. Second, the plantar-pressure distribution calculated by the proposed method is compared with that of commercial pressure sensors. The results demonstrate that the plantar-pressure characteristics of the subject even in a small region are unambiguously represented. Third, the ground reaction force estimated by the proposed method is compared with that of the commercial force plate. The root mean square error (RMSE) is 16% of the maximum ground reaction force. The COP trajectory calculated by the proposed method is compared with the result obtained using the force plate. The averages of COP.x and COP.y RMSEs are calculated as 6.0 and 28.6 mm, respectively, which suggest that the proposed method can calculate the pressure distribution, ground reaction force, and COP trajectory. We apply the proposed method to a developed caterpillar-type transparent treadmill and demonstrate that the proposed method can be used for continuous plantar-pressure distribution measurement. 

References

(1) Masahito, A., et al., A gait analysis system using foot path images, Journal of the Japan Society for Precision Engineering, 2008. 74(12). p. 1318–1324.

(2) Silvino, N., et al., The Harris and Beath footprinting mat: Diagnostic validity and clinical use, Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 1980. 151: p. 265–269.

(3) Betts, R.P., et al., Critical light reflection at a plastic/glass interface and its application to foot pressure measurements, Journal of Medical Engineering and Technology, 1980. 4(3) : p. 136-142.

(4) Currana, S.A., et al., Dynamic and static footprints: Comparative calculations for angle and base of gait, The Foot, 2005. 15(1): p. 40–46.

(5) Lin, C.H., et al., Development of a quantitative assessment system for correlation analysis of footprint parameters to postural control in children, Physiological Measurement, 2006. 27(2): p. 119–130.

(6) Hawes, M.R., et al., Footprint parameters as a measure of arch height, Foot Ankle, 1992. 13(1): p. 22–26.

(7) Nakajima, K., et al., Footprint-based personal recognition, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 2000. 47(11): p. 1534–1537.

(8) Shiina, T., et al., Measurement of undetectable walking feature by appearance based on plantar skin deformation, The 15th International Conference on Biomedical Engineering, 2013. p. 116–119.

(9) Middleton, L., et al., A floor sensor system for gait recognition, Automatic Identification Advanced Technologies, 2005. 5(7): p. 171–176.

(10) Alon, K., et al., Quantifying gait impairment using an instrumented treadmill in people with multiple sclerosis, Hindawi Publishing Corporation ISRN Neurology, 2013. Article ID 867575, 6 pages.

(11) Peter, R., et al., In-shoe plantar pressure measurement: A review, The Foot, 1992. 2(4): p. 185–194.

(12) Yuka, I., et al., Measurement of plantar pressure distribution based on grayscale plantar images, The 8th Asian-Pacific Conference on Biomechanics, 2015. PS8-1.

(13) Jacquelin P., et al., Gait analysis: Normal and pathological function, Slack Inc. (2010).

(14) Yuka, I., et al., Development of gait analysis system based on continuous plantar images obtained using CaTTaP device, Advanced Biomedical Engineering, 2015. 4(0): p. 119–125.

Downloads

Published

2016-03-03

How to Cite

Iijima, Y., Yamakoshi, T., Mizoguchi, H., & Takemura, H. (2016). Development of Plantar-Pressure Estimation Method Based on Continuous Plantar Images. British Journal of Healthcare and Medical Research, 3(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.14738/jbemi.31.1866