St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design (SPbGUPTD) has pioneered a one‑of‑a‑kind laboratory shoe designed to study gait patterns in cerebral palsy patients and to select rehabilitation tools using motion capture technology. According to the press service of the Priority-2030 program of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, this product has no global analogues.
The new shoe design enables researchers to evaluate and correct the biomechanical gait patterns of individuals with cerebral palsy and osteogenesis imperfecta. The method makes it possible, for the first time, to measure the height of the foot arch both in motion and at rest, a capability that accelerates rehabilitation planning and tracking.
To compare orthopedic insoles, SPbGUPTD researchers utilized the Oxford foot model, a framework widely recognized for accurately reflecting the biomechanics of foot segments during walking.
“The foot is a complex structure with numerous joints that enable movement. With the Oxford model, one can analyze four key regions of the foot and determine the true angle of the ankle, that is, how the heel moves relative to the shin bone,” explained Andrei Aksenov, head of the St. Petersburg program, noting that this approach uniquely allows dynamic and static assessment of the arch height.
In practice, scientists place reflective markers on specific anatomical points of the patient’s body. These markers bounce infrared signals, allowing the system to reconstruct a 3D model of the skeleton. The captured data is then processed to reveal precise motion patterns and joint kinetics.
Current efforts focus on building a ready-to-test prototype at SPbGUPTD in collaboration with orthopedic physicians. The evolving technology aims to give orthopedists new visibility into how gait parameters change in response to alterations in footpad design, arch height, rolling trajectories, and related factors. This capability could mark a shift in how rehabilitation tools are selected and evaluated for individual patients, offering a data-driven approach to gait correction and functional improvement.
While the project remains under development, the work underscores a broader tendency in medical biomechanics: translating intricate biomechanical measurements into practical clinical insights. The researchers emphasize that accurate gait analysis, supported by motion capture and validated models, can inform personalized treatment plans and optimize rehabilitation outcomes for children and adults alike. The approach aligns with international trends toward evidence-based customization of assistive devices, fostering collaboration between engineers, clinicians, and therapists to improve quality of life for those affected by gait disorders.
In summary, the SPbGUPTD initiative represents a leap in gait analysis, pairing an innovative orthotic testing shoe with a robust biomechanical framework. The project combines precise measurement, advanced modeling, and clinical collaboration to pave the way for more effective rehabilitation strategies that respond to individual patient needs and foot mechanics.