How wearable technology is transforming foot care

OUR feet work hard every day supporting your body, absorbing impact and adapting to different surfaces. But they often get ignored until something goes wrong.

- 

Imagine your shoes alerting you to foot injuries before you feel any pain, or your socks warning you about the risk of an ulcer before symptoms even appear.

This is the promise of new wearable foot technology.

About one in five adults in middle and old age experience foot pain, ranging from minor aches to problems that limit daily activities. Some foot conditions, particularly linked to diabetes, can be life-threatening.

Diabetic foot ulcers have a five-year death rate of around 40%. This means that patients with foot ulcers caused by diabetes have a 40% chance of dying within five years of symptoms appearing, which is higher than many cancers.

If untreated, ulcers can lead to severe infections and even necessitate amputation.

New wearable devices, such as smart insoles and socks, can prevent these serious complications through early detection.

They work by constantly tracking your foot pressure, walking patterns and even skin temperature.

‘The collected information is ana-lysed using advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence, providing timely warnings about potential foot problems.

Machine learning, for instance, has successfully predicted diabetic foot ulcers from this wearable data, helping healthcare providers intervene before complications occur.

Smart insoles contain tiny sensors that measure how pressure spreads across your feet when you walk or run. They can detect abnormal walking patterns with over 90% precision, spotting issues before they cause pain or injury.