Rourkela , Odisha : Tackle heel pain device is the focus of a new low-cost, indigenous force plate that researchers at the National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela) developed. It enhances gait profiling and helps create better footwear and treatment strategies to reduce heel pain.
Heel pain ranks among the most widespread foot ailments in adults. Overloading of the plantar fascia, a band of tissue supporting the arch, often causes it.
In many cases, changes in the heel pad—a fatty tissue under the heel—also contribute to the problem. This tissue acts as a shock absorber during standing, running, or walking. Excess stress reduces the heel pad’s cushioning ability, causing pain and discomfort. Aging, injury, obesity, diabetes, and ill-fitting shoes can also trigger the condition.
The new force plate measures multi-axial ground reaction forces (GRF). Researchers then use the GRF data to diagnose abnormal gait patterns.
The device will benefit sports academics, educational institutes, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers in India, as it costs far less than imported alternatives.
“Most neuromuscular disorders affect an individual’s gait pattern. Since gait requires precise coordination of muscle strength and balance, disturbances in any of these can alter walking and the corresponding GRF,” said Prof. A. Thirugnanam from IIT Roorkee.
“Some common neuromuscular diseases—myopathies, peripheral neuropathies, neuromuscular junction disorders, spasticity, ataxia, Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy—can alter GRF. The force plate can diagnose these abnormalities,” Thirugnanam added.
Force plates remain essential diagnostic tools for analysing human musculoskeletal health worldwide. High costs and a lack of Indian manufacturers have limited their availability in India.
Imported force plates usually cost between Rs 30-50 lakhs. The indigenously developed force plate will cost around Rs 8-10 lakhs, offering a 70-85% cost reduction and making it an affordable alternative.
–IANS
