Gait parameters estimated using inertial measurement units

Abstract

Gait temporal and spatial parameters are effective indicators of the quality of mobility. They are usually estimated in a controlled and dedicated space using relatively expensive instrumentation. The development of wearable technology allowed for the use of inertial measurement units to estimate various gait parameters. The level of accuracy for their determination, required in clinical contexts, can be achieved by carefully processing the data recorded by the sensors. In this chapter, a survey of approaches and methods proposed in the literature for estimating temporal and spatial gait parameters is presented. They differ in the sensor configuration and in the data processing and are applied to healthy and/or pathologic subject groups. Moreover, an overview of the use of gait temporal and spatial parameters in both straight-ahead walking and turning is presented in a clinimetric context. Applications in the laboratory or clinic are presented as well as in real-life environments.