Investigating the Performance Characteristics of Auxetic Foams in Neuropathy Treatment Applications
- Posted
- Server
- Preprints.org
- DOI
- 10.20944/preprints202602.1407.v1
Research into auxetic foams and their impact on ground reaction forces (GRFs) across diverse neuropathic etiologies is limited. Auxetic foams—closed-cell materials with a negative Poisson’s ratio—conform to irregular foot structures, offering significant rehabilitative potential to mitigate symptoms by optimizing GRF reduction and enhancing gait. Currently, there is a lack of versatile orthoses capable of addressing the heterogeneous subtypes of foot neuropathy. Conducted in collaboration with the National Aeronautics Space Administration/Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA/MSFC), this feasibility study evaluates the efficacy of auxetic foam insoles in reducing vertical GRFs and improving gait across various neuropathic conditions, comparing performance against standard over-the-counter (OTC) insoles. Six participants (five with varying neuropathic etiologies and one healthy control) performed walking trials across force plates (NUL225, NEULOG) under three conditions: barefoot (with socks), OTC insoles, and fabricated auxetic foam insoles. A 3 × 5 Kruskal-Wallis test analyzed the impact of insole type and neuropathic condition on vertical GRFs (?=0.05). Results indicated a significant interaction between insole type and neuropathy. Auxetic foam insoles effectively reduced GRFs in participants with diabetic, neuropathic arthritis, and personal injury-related neuropathy. Qualitative assessments further demonstrated that auxetic foam significantly improved coordination and gait compared to OTC alternatives.