Applied Sciences, Vol. 15, Pages 10156: A Deep Learning-Based Plantar Pressure Measurement System for Accurate Foot Arch Index Estimation

Applied Sciences doi: 10.3390/app151810156

Authors:
Hung-Rui Liao
Hsing-Cheng Yu
Szu-Ju Li

The medial longitudinal arch is fundamental to weight distribution, balance, and lower limb biomechanics, and its evaluation is important for identifying abnormalities such as flatfoot or high arch. Traditional clinical methods for assessing the foot arch index (FAI) are often constrained by limited accessibility and inconsistent accuracy. To overcome these limitations, this study proposes a deep learning-based plantar pressure measurement system (DLPPMS) designed for accurate and affordable static foot arch evaluation. The system integrates two resistive pressure sensor arrays combined into a 24 × 24 matrix to acquire plantar pressure data in real time. To enhance spatial resolution and improve the fidelity of pressure distribution, Bessel interpolation is employed to generate smooth, high-resolution plantar pressure maps. Deep learning-based pose estimation and instance segmentation models are further applied to isolate the plantar region and identify anatomical keypoints relevant for FAI computation. The system was validated on participants with flatfoot, normal arch, and high arch conditions, demonstrating high segmentation accuracy, reliable keypoint localization, and consistent FAI estimation with minimal error compared to reference values. These results confirm that the DLPPMS provides accurate, repeatable, and low-cost assessment of the medial longitudinal arch under static conditions. Overall, this work highlights the potential of combining pressure sensing, interpolation algorithms, and deep learning into a portable and scalable system, offering promising applications not only for clinical diagnostics but also for biomechanical research, preventive healthcare, and rehabilitation monitoring.

Source link

Hung-Rui Liao www.mdpi.com