A method for gait analysis in a daily living environment by body-mounted instruments

Abstract

A new method is proposed to investigate kinematics and dynamics of locomotion without any limitation of laboratorial conditions. This method enables simple measurements and numerical kinematical calculations with small body-mounted instruments utilizing accelerometers and gyroscopes. Temporal parameters of gait are determined by classification of accelerations and angular velocities. Joint angles, joint moments, and energy consumptions as mechanical works are estimated assuming rigid-body dynamics in sagittal plane. The method is verified by comparing the results of video-based motion capture system and force plates as conventional standards, evaluating accuracy for normal level walking at four cadences. No significant differences are observed between the results of the proposed method and those from the conventional method. It confirms the validity of the proposed method for healthy subjects and the method can provides free mobility in the investigation of locomotive dynamics beyond the gait laboratory.