Smart Tracking Assistance for Balance and Locomotion Enhancement (STABLE)

A Novel Rehabilitation Shoe for Real Time Gait Correction and Support

Abstract

Walking impairments affect millions worldwide, reducing independence and increasing the risk of falls, yet current assistive devices primarily provide passive support without actively retraining gait mechanics. This paper presents STABLE (Smart Tracking Assistance for Balance and Locomotion Enhancement), a wearable rehabilitation shoe that integrates real-time pressure sensing, gyroscopic orientation tracking, corrective piston-based actuation, and haptic feedback to stabilize and retrain walking patterns. Unlike conventional orthotics, STABLE establishes a personalized baseline during calibration, allowing its embedded control system to detect deviations in plantar pressure or foot rotation and respond with mechanical corrections alongside vibrational cues that reinforce proper gait. The system's closed-loop architecture ensures rapid detection and correction at high frequency, while onboard logging and wireless communication allow long-term progress tracking by patients and therapists. By combining immediate stabilization with neuromuscular training, STABLE represents a proactive, adaptive, and user-centered advance in mobility rehabilitation technology.