Abstract
Introduction
Exercise is widely promoted as one of the most accessible and effective tools for supporting mental health, yet access to safe and sustainable physical activity is not equally distributed. Regular exercise is widely promoted as an effective way to reduce stress, alleviate anxiety, and improve mood, with running in particular shown to regulate cortisol levels and release endorphins as a low-cost form of stress relief (Mahindru et al., n.d.). However, the mental health benefits of exercise depend on the ability to participate safely, as any injuries can significantly limit mobility and often require specialized equipment to manage or prevent further damage. Despite the clear health benefits, access to these technologies remains highly limited due to financial, geographic, and social barriers. High-quality athletic equipment is prohibitively expensive, while lower-cost alternatives frequently fail to provide adequate support or adaptability. These disparities disproportionately affect low-income populations, individuals with disabilities, and racial and ethnic minority groups, which limits their ability to engage in regular physical activity and access its mental health benefits. As a result, the populations most vulnerable to mental health challenges are often those least able to use exercise as a form of relief. This project attempts to address the issue through the development of an adjustable orthotic insert that allows users to modify arch support and impact across activities, while also examining how inequities in access to athletic technology reinforce disparities in mental health outcomes.
Technical Project
Musculoskeletal injuries resulting from foot imbalances, unilateral discrepancies, and poor biomechanical alignment pose significant challenges to physical health and quality of life. Abnormal stress on muscles, nerves, and joints can lead to overuse injuries, functional limitations, and chronic pain over time, which often discourages consistent engagement in physical activity (Rao et al., 2012). Nearly a quarter of orthoses users report no improvement, and approximately 13.5% indicate an increase in severity of symptoms (Razeghi & Batt, 2000).
The technical portion of the project sought to develop an adjustable orthotic insert capable of dynamically modifying arch support and pressure distribution during physical activity. The design integrates pressure sensors located at the toe, arch, heel, and forefoot to detect gait abnormalities and localized pain points during movement. An Arduino-based system processes pressure sensor data and reacts with an integrated air-pump mechanism to adjust internal support. This project produces a single, adjustable orthotic device intended to reduce injury risk while improving accessibility compared to traditional static or expensive custom orthotics.
STS Research Paper
The STS research focused on analyzing how inequities in access to athletic equipment shape who benefits from the mental health advantages of exercise through a Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) framework. SCOT demonstrates how athletes, clinicians, manufacturers, and low-income users have different meanings of orthotic devices based on their needs, resources, and environments. My analysis showed that manufacturers and clinical providers tend to prioritize performance optimization and individualized correction, which leads to the development of expensive, specialized equipment. In contrast, low-income communities and underserved populations prioritize affordability and adaptability, but these requirements are systematically underrepresented in design decisions. Additionally, racial and socioeconomic disparities in physical activity participation further demonstrate how limited access to supportive equipment reduces consistent exercise engagement, therefore limiting access to one of the most widely used mental health interventions. Through this analysis, orthotic technology appears to be a socially constructed artifact whose design reinforces unequal access to health practices, rather than a neutral medical tool.
Conclusion
Together, the STS analysis and technical design show how orthotic technologies act both as medical devices and tools that influence access to health resources. The STS work demonstrates that manufacturers and healthcare systems often shape innovations in ways that exclude populations most in need of affordable injury prevention, while the technical work aims to prioritize adaptability and cost-friendly design. These projects highlight how engineering can both reinforce and challenge inequities in access to mental health benefits through physical activity. Engineers hold a responsibility to consider accessibility, inclusion, and societal impact of their designs because these decisions can have a direct impact.
Acknowledgements
I would like to sincerely thank my Capstone advisor, Dr. Shawn Russell, for making this project possible and for supporting my team throughout the project. I would also like to thank my team members, Cecilia Fetterolf, Kasey Prybylski, Christian Thompson, and Hannah Zook for their hard work and collaboration to achieve our goals. I am extremely thankful for Dr. Jacques and his thoughtful guidance while writing the Thesis paper.
