Motorised shoe to improve mobility in older people

An innovative training shoe that will help older people improve their mobility has been developed by a team of international researchers including engineers from Strathclyde.

The project named SMILING (Self Mobility Improvement in the Elderly by Counteracting Falls) focuses on the use of motorised shoes to improve walking and balance to reduce the risk of falling.

A prototype has been trialled in four countries - Italy, Switzerland, Israel and Slovakia - and the results are currently being analysed.

According to David Carus, an Honorary Research Fellow in the University's Faculty of Engineering, and a member of the SMILING project, ''As people get older, there are major functional changes in motor behaviour that can restrict people's participation in every day activities.

''The SMILING solution uses four motors in each shoe which react differently with every step taken by the person. This challenges the user to actively respond to the situation as they can't see what is coming next to allow time for an appropriate course of action.

''People can re-learn the process of walking in later years and take that approach into real life situations. As the project moves into its latest phase, we are moving closer to a product that will significantly prolong independent living and in turn increase participation in society.''