Limb locomotion--speed distribution analysis as a new method for stance phase detection

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Motion Analysis
• Veterinary Medicine

Background:

• The stance phase is crucial for analyzing animal and human locomotion.
• Accurate stance phase determination is essential for gait analysis and performance evaluation.
• Existing methods for stance phase detection can be complex or require specialized equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, non-invasive kinematical method for determining the stance phase.
• To validate the accuracy and reliability of this new method against established kinetic techniques.
• To assess the applicability of the method across different species, gaits, and surfaces.

Main Methods:

• Calculating the speed distribution of the distal limb's horizontal motion from high-speed video data.
• Identifying the stance phase based on the speed threshold with maximum occurrence within the motion cycle.
• Comparing the results with synchronous stance phase determination using force plates in horses.

Main Results:

• The novel kinematical method demonstrated high accuracy, with a mean difference of only 10.8 ms (1.44% of stance phase duration) compared to force plate data in horses.
• The method was successfully applied to a horse on a treadmill and a human walking on concrete, indicating versatility.
• The technique provides an easy, safe, and reliable way to determine stance phase from continuous kinematic data.

Conclusions:

• The presented kinematical method offers a reliable and accessible approach for stance phase determination in motion analysis.
• This technique is suitable for various species, gaits, and environments, including treadmills and firm ground.
• The findings support the use of this method for objective gait analysis in research and clinical settings.