Development of Smart Socks for Real-Time Assessment of Knee Ankle Associated Functional Mobility in Patients During and Post-Rehabilitation

Abstract

A compact hardware module, approximately the size of a coin and weighing ~6 g, has been developed and integrated within Smart Socks for ambulatory assessment of lower-limb mobility in elderly individuals over extended durations ranging from 6 hours to 30 days. The system features onboard data logging of foot-mounted inertial sensor outputs, enabling continuous monitoring without dependency on external devices. A dedicated software interface, paired with the Smart Socks, processes and compares the right and left foot mobility data to derive statistical indicators and fall propensity metrics, aligned with established disability and functional mobility scales. This integrated hardware–software platform allows physiotherapy practitioners to quantitatively assess fall risk, track rehabilitation progress, and tailor physiotherapy interventions accordingly. The Smart Socks thus provide a lightweight, user-friendly, and clinically relevant solution for real-time mobility assessment and fall-risk management in geriatric care.