Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 25: In a major breakthrough for affordable healthcare and biomechanical diagnostics, researchers at NIT Rourkela have developed a low-cost, indigenous force plate that can accurately profile gait and support better footwear design and treatment of heel pain — one of the most common foot conditions among adults.

While heel pain is often attributed to plantar fasciitis, researchers have found that changes in the heel pad—a fat layer under the heel that acts as a natural shock absorber—can also be a key factor. When this cushion degrades due to stress, aging, obesity, injury, or ill-fitting footwear, it can lead to chronic discomfort.

The newly developed force plate measures multi-axial ground reaction forces (GRF) — the forces exerted by the ground on the body during walking or running. These GRF readings can reveal abnormal gait patterns, making the device valuable for diagnosing foot-related issues and neuromuscular disorders.

According to Prof. A. Thirugnanam of IIT Roorkee, who is collaborating on the research, many conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, peripheral neuropathy, spasticity, and ataxia impact gait and muscle coordination. “These abnormalities are reflected in the GRF, which the force plate can accurately detect,” he said.

Traditionally, force plates are expensive imports, often priced between Rs 30 to Rs 50 lac, limiting their availability in Indian hospitals, sports institutes, and rehabilitation centers. In contrast, the NIT Rourkela force plate will be priced at around Rs 8 to Rs 10 lac, offering up to 85% cost reduction without compromising on diagnostic value.

This cost-effective solution opens new possibilities for wide-scale deployment in Indian sports science, physiotherapy, and medical diagnostics, filling a crucial gap left by expensive foreign systems.