After learning about barriers to outdoor activities, two Colorado State University professors have invented a new shoe for people who have foot disabilities caused by conditions like cerebral palsy and stroke.
“The exciting thing about this project is for it to get out of our university and onto the shelves and into the hands of people who could really benefit from it,” said CSU Associate Professor of Design and Merchandising Kristen Morris.
An estimated 5.4 million adults in the U.S. live with paralysis, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Nearly 2 million of them wear ankle-foot orthosis, or AFOs, that stabilize their feet and allow them to walk.
Morris realized there was a need for a solution after hearing from people with paralysis about the challenges of their footwear. She shared the data she collected with Lida Aflatoony, an assistant professor of design and merchandising at CSU, and the two worked together to create something new…