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Designer

Erika Lopez

Orthopedic Shoe

Thesis Project

2023

The Ergonomics and Functionality of Orthopedic Shoes

A Research Study to Develop a Better Orthopedic Shoe for People with Diabetes

Diabetes can cause many problems with the feet that can result in pain, wounds or the loss of toes or the foot itself. Doctors often recommend patients to buy orthopedic shoes to prevent those from happening. Orthopedic shoes typically have features such as a wide toe box, flexible and comfortable materials, added cushion in the sole, a rocker bottom profile sole to improve gait stability, a padded interior, and more. But, according to customer reviews, existing orthopedic shoes tend to be limited in functionality, ergonomics, comfort, and aesthetic quality.

From evidence uncovered during literature review, participant interviews, online survey results and professional insights, I decided to focus on providing enough support and cushion to make the patient comfortable, making the shoe wide enough in the toe box to fit the foot, offering a soft and seamless interior to prevent rubbing, making the upper materials flexible to accommodate for swelling, making the shoe lightweight, providing a simple slip-on shoe so the patient can easily put it on, and presenting quality aesthetics to be able to be worn in any occasion, including more formal events.

Design development began with sketching, leading to 3 main sketches with features that would be included in the prototypes, like shape, aesthetics, different bending mechanisms, different methods to make the shoe lighter, and exploration in where and how to incorporate specific materials.

Materials used consisted of some typical orthopedic shoe materials like leather, mesh fabric, and memory foam. Other materials were velvet, elastic belting, a breathable and cushioned insole, TPU for the sole, which provided cushion and the right amount of flexibility and stiffness, and a slap-wrist bracelet and magnets for the slip-on feature.

First Prototype

Features

  • Cushion in the sole emphasized with a rocker-bottom profile

  • Contoured support in the arch of the sole

  • Heel support with an inserted 3D printed heel counter

  • Inserted 3D printed toe cap to keep the materials away from the foot

  • Lightweight materials

  • More width in the toe box

  • Soft, stretchy, and breathable materials

  • Quality aesthetics with leather

  • Slip-on mechanism

Testing

Likes

Dislikes

  • Aesthetics of the leather

  • Sufficient arch support

  • Shoe is lightweight

  • Soft, stretchy materials

  • Sufficient cushion

  • Wide enough in the toe box

  • Bends easily

  • Heel slips

  • Uppers are not very breathable

  • Interior seam on the top of the foot could rub

  • Heel doesn’t come up high enough

  • Does not stay bent to be able to put on hands-free

  • Color of the sole

  • Heel of the sole is too narrow

  • Not enough traction on the bottom of the sole

  • Changed direction of some of the traction on the bottom of the sole

  • Stronger magnets in “holders” for a working slip-on mechanism

  • Less dramatic arch in the middle of the sole

  • Breathable mesh material in the interior of the heel

  • More leather throughout with strategic holes punched for added breathability and decoration

  • Memory foam inserted in the top rim of the heel and the top edge of the shoe

  • Enough fabric in the toe box

  • Less fabric at the heel, making the shoe fit better

  • Fabric stiffener made the shoe have more of a natural shape

Features

Final Prototype

Second Prototype

Dislikes

  • Too much pressure in the arch

  • Not enough fabric in the toe box

  • Shoe was too big in the heel, making the heel slip

  • Magnets were not strong enough to hold the shoe in the bent position for slip-on method

  • Fabric is not stiff enough

  • Aesthetics of the upper materials are not up to par (include more leather)

  • Interior fabric at the heel could get hot

  • Direction of some of the traction on the bottom of the sole should change to avoid slipping

Testing

  • Fabric was soft and breathable

  • Increased depth of bottom tread increased traction

  • Wider heel base of the sole stabilized the heel

  • Better aesthetics in the sole

  • Sufficient cushioning

  • Shoe is lightweight

Likes

Features

  • More breathable materials throughout

  • Black sole

  • More traction on the bottom of the sole

  • Heel strap on the outside

  • Wider heel of the sole

  • No toe cap

  • Memory foam inserted in the heel

  • Magnetic bending mechanism for slip-on feature

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