A conductive rubber footswitch design for gait analysis.

The performance of a footswitch which uses conductive rubber modules in foam, sandwiched between two brass shims in the form of an inner sole placed between the foot and the shoe is reported. Contact switching force decreases with module density, whilst position of the conductivity plugs in the footswitch is irrelevant. Comments on the construction of a footswitch using these modules are made, in particular no modification of the conductive rubber is needed and a density throughout greater than 4 modules per square inch leads to threshold switch forces of 30 N and less which is totally acceptable for gait analysis use without fears of contact being made whilst inserting and positioned in the subject's shoe.