Piezoelectric energy generated by foot strike and biomechanical parameters associated with foot health: a pilot study with ergonomic validation

Abstract

The objective evaluation of plantar vestiges and foot functionality represents a significant challenge in the fields of health and biomedical engineering. Simultaneously, the development of sustainable technologies aimed at harnessing energy generated during daily physical activities has garnered increasing interest. Therefore, piezoelectricity emerges as a disruptive option by transforming the mechanical energy produced by human gait into electrical energy, thus allowing biomechanical evaluation and micro-energy generation to be integrated into a single working system. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between various biomechanical parameters of the plantar vestige and the piezoelectric energy generated during human gait, through the ergonomic validation of a novel piezoelectric tile system. A quantitative pilot study was conducted with 100 university students. Biomechanical and electrical variables were simultaneously recorded, and the energy generated was estimated based on the voltage generated and the contact time of the foot with the surface. The results showed a positive and statistically significant association between foot contact time and generated voltage (r = 0.82; p < 0.001), rein https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8901-0159 forcing the influence of biomechanical variables of the vestigial foot on the system's electrical response. In conclusion, the viability of piezoelectric tiles can be affirmed, as they constitute an accessible and sustainable alternative for functional foot assessment and for low-power micro-energy generation