Clinics in Developmental Medicine

Gait analysis using wearable sensors is an inexpensive, convenient, and efficient manner of providing useful information for multiple health-related applications. As a clinical tool applied in the rehabilitation and diagnosis of medical conditions and sport activities, gait analysis using wearable sensors shows great prospects. The current paper reviews available wearable sensors and ambulatory gait analysis methods based on the various wearable sensors. After an introduction of the gait phases, the principles and features of wearable sensors used in gait analysis are provided. The gait analysis methods based on wearable sensors is divided into gait kinematics, gait kinetics, and electromyography. Studies on the current methods are reviewed, and applications in sports, rehabilitation, and clinical diagnosis are summarized separately. With the development of sensor technology and the analysis method, gait analysis using wearable sensors is expected to play an increasingly important role in clinical applications.

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Gait analysis using wearable sensors.

The effect of walking speed on the gait of typically developing children.

Biomechanical analysis is a powerful tool in the evaluation of movement dysfunction in orthopaedic and neurologic populations. Three-dimensional (3D) motion capture systems are widely used, accurate systems, but are costly and not available in many clinical settings. The Microsoft Kinect™ has the potential to be used as an alternative low-cost motion analysis tool. The purpose of this study was to assess concurrent validity of the Kinect™ with Brekel Kinect software in comparison to Vicon Nexus during sagittal plane gait kinematics. Twenty healthy adults (nine male, 11 female) were tracked while walking and jogging at three velocities on a treadmill. Concurrent hip and knee peak flexion and extension and stride timing measurements were compared between Vicon and Kinect™. Although Kinect measurements were representative of normal gait, the Kinect™ generally under-estimated joint flexion and over-estimated extension. Kinect™ and Vicon hip angular displacement correlation was very low and error was large. Kinect™ knee measurements were somewhat better than hip, but were not consistent enough for clinical assessment. Correlation between Kinect™ and Vicon stride timing was high and error was fairly small. Variability in Kinect™ measurements was smallest at the slowest velocity. The Kinect™ has basic motion capture capabilities and with some minor adjustments will be an acceptable tool to measure stride timing, but sophisticated advances in software and hardware are necessary to improve Kinect™ sensitivity before it can be implemented for clinical use.

Comparative abilities of Microsoft Kinect and Vicon 3D motion capture for gait analysis.

A multiple-task gait analysis approach: kinematic, kinetic and EMG reference data for healthy young and adult subjects.

http://www.clinicalgaitanalysis.com/data/stansfield.pdf

Regression analysis of gait parameters with speed in normal children walking at self-selected speeds.

Normalisation of gait data in children

This study was designed to assess the impact of gait analysis on the treatment of patients with cerebral palsy. One hundred two ambulant patients with cerebral palsy were assessed clinically and with gait analysis. Separate treatment proposals for each patient were recorded after clinical examination and after gait analysis. The results of the two methods of assessment were compared. After clinical assessment, 71 of the 102 patients evaluated were recommended for a surgical procedure and 31 for nonoperative treatment. After gait analysis, the indications for treatment were confirmed in 91 cases (89%). Clinical assessment by the same orthopedic surgeon was in close agreement with gait analysis in identifying an indication for surgery. There was less agreement in the type or level of operation recommended. Gait analysis altered the decision in 106 of 267 operations (40%). There was good agreement for bone surgery, suggesting that clinical evaluation of torsional problems was fairly reliable. The poorer agreement seen for soft tissue operations probably reflects the difficulties in assessing tone-related problems in these patients clinically. This study confirms the value of gait analysis for decision-making in cerebral palsy.

/pdf/gait-analysis-alters-decision-making-in-cerebral-palsy-5an0i7cbco.pdf

M.E. Hazlewood

Papers

Regression analysis of gait parameters with speed in normal children walking at self-selected speeds.

Normalisation of gait data in children

Gait analysis alters decision-making in cerebral palsy.

The effect of simulated hamstring shortening on gait in normal subjects.

ESMAC Award Can transverse plane rotations be estimated from video tape gait analysis