Plantar pressure distribution in elderly and control group aged 19-22 years: a comparison between hotel slipper and 5% NaOH treated eco-friendly loofah slipper

Abstract

Plantar pressure distribution is a critical biomechanical factor in maintaining walking stability in the elderly. This study aimed to compare the plantar pressure distribution between eco-friendly slippers made from loofah treated with 5% NaOH and conventional hotel slippers in two subject groups: a control group aged 19–22 years and an elderly group aged ≥60 years. Measurements were conducted using a force sensing resistor (FSR) sensors placed at the medial forefoot, lateral forefoot, midfoot, and heel areas to map pressure distribution across the plantar surface during the walking phase. In the elderly group, the use of loofah slippers reduced the standard deviation of plantar pressure distribution from 0,143 to 0,096; while in the control group, the reduction was from 0,192 to 0,140. The results demonstrated that loofah slippers provided a more even plantar pressure distribution compared to hotel slippers, particularly in the midfoot and heel areas. This balanced distribution has the potential to reduce excessive pressure on critical foot areas by enhancing comfort and walking stability the two subject groups. These findings suggest that eco-friendly loofah slippers may be considered a sustainable footwear alternative capable of optimizing plantar pressure distribution in the elderly.