Kintec Footlabs: emergent human centred frameworks for the design and manufacture of orthotics

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In 2016 the foot orthotic market represents an approximate value of $US1.2 billion throughout North America.[1] Broadly speaking, foot orthotics are clinically effective for a variety of conditions from plantar fasciitis to lower back pain yet the specific mechanisms behind this clinical success are elusive. The traditional clinical process that determines how or why a specific design of orthotic is based from a framework developed by Root, O'Rien, and Weed that states lower extremity pathology is a result of poor alignment.[2] It is therefore, according to Root, the objective of an orthotic to correct any alignment defect using one, or a combination of, arch support, hind-foot posting or forefoot wedging. The patient's comfort is a secondary aspect in this process and is addressed insofar as to assist in the compliance of this corrective device. Two significant developments over the past 10 years have now drawn into question the validity of the Root et al. approach. A new design framework that emphasizes a more patient-centered approach could greatly reduce those costs, as well as enhance the value and effectiveness of foot orthotics. Kintec would like to collaborate with two Research Centres at Emily Carr University, the Health Design Lab (HDL) and Material Matters (MML), to develop a new design framework for orthotics, which involves a human-centered and design engineering perspective. Researchers from HDL specialize in human-centred design approaches to address complex health and healthcare challenges, while Researchers from MML specializes in design transfer, material and technology development. The project supports a variety of research and design questions including: how might we consider patient comfort in the design of orthotics, and how might 3d printing enable more customized and comfortable orthotics? How can the process of orthotic fittings be improved to better support patient comfort and patient decision making in the process? Initially this research will take the form of exploratory interviews and service design mapping to gain a general understanding of the landscape of Kintec and the foot orthotic industry, including existing materials, designs and objectives. The next phase will include patient interviews and review of patient data from completed questionnaire responses to identify patient interests, and expectations surrounding pedorthic services. By combining our research into patient experiences with foot orthotic clinical theory, we will start to collaboratively conceptualize a novel design framework that can incorporate dynamic, objective gait data directly into the orthotic design.