The Development of Foot Orthotics Using Shape Memory Alloy for Preventing Falls

Plantar arch has been considered to be important function in walking and to control the body balance. Many of elderly lose this function, tend to fall which to lost activities of daily life. Therefore we attempt to develop the foot orthotics for preventing falls using hyper elasticity with shape memory alloy (SMA). To evaluate orthotics function, the single-leg standing testing with eyes open using subjects was done. Measuring standing time, maximum amplitude of body, moving area of centroid were measured using video recording and stabilograph. Meanwhile, pinch force of toe was measured to ascertain whether flatfoot was reproduced by orthotics, because the study was reported that plantar muscle was weakened with aged. Test results showed that all date of orthotics was superior to flatfoot model. Although no significant difference was showed by test results in this study, this orthotics with SMA could be expected to be effective for falls prevention.