Using a pilot study to establish experimental methods for inexpensive instrumented insoles used in dynamic skiing analysis

Loss of balance leads to increased likelihood of falling for human locomotion. Determining the likelihood of falling for skiing locomotion is challenging because, unlike walking, normal locomotion is not clearly defined. One of the first learned styles of skiing is wedge style (WS). WS affords relatively easier balancing and speed control due to a wide base of support and greater resistance to forward movement, respectively. As skiers become more familiar with WS, their sensory, cognition, and actuation improve and they are able to apply more advanced styles, namely parallel style (PS), which requires refined balance. This paper studies the effects of WS and PS, on a single subject pilot study, and how they effect the likelihood of falling. A traditional laboratory setting was not suitable because of extreme difficulty and expense required to mimic the environment. Specially designed instrumented insoles were used to capture force data in a mountain environment.