Preventing falls in older people by an innovative connected shoe: development & biomechanics study

“老年人跌倒是60岁以上人群受伤死亡的最常见原因，每年花费NHS超过20亿英镑。鞋子通过改变脚和脚踝的体感反馈，直接影响平衡和步态，以及随后滑倒、绊倒和跌倒的风险。赤脚（也被称为极简主义）的鞋子旨在密切模仿不穿鞋的情况。他们减少了缓冲，薄底，重量比传统的鞋子更轻，允许更多的感觉接触的脚在地面上，同时为脚提供一些保护免受地面危险和条件。研究表明，与传统鞋相比，赤脚鞋在增强肌肉、恢复步态和平衡方面有好处，但大多数论文都集中在跑步和年轻人身上。在这个项目中，英国赤脚技术的领导者Vivobarefoot与利物浦大学（老化和慢性疾病研究所肌肉骨骼生物学部门）合作，通过开发一种专门针对60岁以上人群的高度创新的赤脚极简鞋，为老年人的跌倒带来有效和负担得起的解决方案。这款鞋将整合创新的材料，并采用最佳的设计，以获得最佳的机械性能，从而改善老年人的步态和平衡。这款鞋的一个版本将配备高端压力传感器，该传感器将收集用户足部生物力学数据，并将其输入步行“教练”应用程序，该应用程序会生成简单的指令或提示如何改善步行。该项目包括一项重要的研究，该研究将包括对穿着新开发的鞋子的人的脚/脚踝的生物力学特性的深入分析。这项研究将由UoL进行，将涉及35-40名60多岁的志愿者。我们的目的是提供强有力的足部生物力学证据，证明赤脚走路和穿常规鞋走路对老年人平衡和步态的影响。”

"Older people falls are the most common cause of death from injury in the over 60s and cost the NHS over £2bn a year. Shoes directly influence balance and gait and subsequent risk of slips, trips and falls by altering somatosensory feedback to the foot and ankle.Barefoot (also known as minimalist) shoes are intended to closely mimic an unshod condition. They have reduced cushioning, thin soles, and are of lighter weight than conventional shoes, allowing for more sensory contact of the foot on the ground while simultaneously providing the feet with some protection from ground hazards and conditions. Research suggests benefits of barefoot shoes in strengthening muscles and restoring gait and balance as compared to conventional shoes but most papers focus on running and young people.In this project, Vivobarefoot, the UK leader in barefoot technology has teamed up with University of Liverpool (the Department of Musculoskeletal Biology at the Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease to bring an efficient and affordable solution to older people falls by development of a highly innovative barefoot minimalist shoe specifically targeted for the over 60s. This shoe will integrate innovative materials and use optimal design for best mechanical properties allowing to improve gait and balance in older people. A version of this shoe will be equipped with high end pressure sensors that will collect data on the user's foot biomechanics and feed them into walking ""coach"" app that generates simple instructions or prompts on to how to improve walking. This project comprises an important research study that will consist of an in-depth analysis of biomechanical properties of the foot/ankle in people wearing the newly developed shoe. This study will be performed by the UoL and will involve 35-40 over 60s volunteers. The aim is to provide robust foot biomechanics evidence on the effects of barefoot vs. conventionally shod walking on older people's balance & gait"