Hit the Ground Running—Wearable Sensors to Measure Foot Plantar Pressure

This study describes the design, fabrication, and mechanical evaluation of flexible capacitive pressure sensors intended for integration into smart insoles for plantar pressure monitoring. Sensors were constructed using layered conductive textile electrodes and a silicone elastomer dielectric, with dielectric porosity introduced through vertical microstructures or sugar-templated micropores to enhance sensitivity. Mechanical loading experiments demonstrated that microporous dielectric layers significantly improved sensor sensitivity and linearity under applied strain. The results indicate that structural modification of soft elastomer dielectrics is an effective strategy for improving performance of wearable pressure sensors for gait analysis, injury prevention, and rehabilitation monitoring.