Prof. ZHANG Ming, Director of Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports), Head of Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chair Professor of Biomechanics, PolyU, revealed in an exclusive interview with Ta Kung Pao earlier that his team has been working on the custom additive manufacturing (3D printing) of various sports equipment such as orthotic insoles. Additive manufacturing is a technique that uses 3D data to produce products and significantly reduces material waste, manufacturing cycle times, and manual processes as compared to traditional manufacturing. Not only can this technology be applied in sports equipment for athletic performance enhancement, but also in the production of personalised insoles and shoes to help address foot problems like flat feet, high arches, severe overpronation, etc.
The next step of the research project is to continue improving the insole design and its surface materials for improved user comfort, sweat absorption and cushioning. The team is connecting with the Hong Kong Sports Institute and other related institutions, for wider opportunities to put 3D insoles into application.
Apart from personalised insoles, Prof. Zhang also works with the inland on the development of custom-made basketball shoes that protect sports players from injuries. The team developed a three-axis sensor built into the shoe sole to analyse the distribution of the vertical and shear forces on the sole of the feet during tangential motion, thus facilitating functional basketball footwear that improves forefoot comfort.
Further reading: http://www.takungpao.com/news/232109/2022/1202/793124.html (simplified Chinese)
| Research Units | Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology |
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