A Study On Ergonomic Pad For Preventing Plantar Fasciitis Using Fea

The number of people suffering from plantar fasciitis has been rising due to an increasing elderly population and sport activities. This study developed an ergonomic cushion pad as a cost-effective method to prevent foot disease. To design the foot orthotics, kinematic link models, medically divided into normal foot and flat foot, were developed. Using these models, stress distribution between the sole of the foot and the foot orthotics, as well as deformation from plantar fascia were analyzed by finite element analysis. Our results show that both stress nd deformation were concentrated in the rear of the foot. According to the results of FEA, a cushion pad from arch support to heel was manufactured using a new type of water-hardened polyurethane. This was then compared with a human foot using a 3D scanner. We have demonstrated that the formability of the new design is an improvement on the conventional design.