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Lower-Limb Biomechanical Characteristics Associated with Unplanned Gait Termination Under Different Walking Speeds
Published on: August 25, 2020
Foot kinematics during walking measured using bone and surface mounted markers.
1Centre for Rehabilitation and Human Performance Research, Brian Blatchford Building, University of Salford, M66PU, UK. c.j.nester@salford.ac.uk
Journal of Biomechanics
|July 17, 2007
Summary
Comparing foot motion capture methods, researchers found significant differences between bone kinematics and skin or plate marker protocols. Maximum differences exceeded 8 degrees, suggesting no single rigid body foot model or attachment method is consistently superior.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Orthopedics
- Motion Analysis
Background:
- Accurate foot kinematics are crucial for understanding gait and designing interventions.
- Existing foot models use multi-segment approaches with varying marker attachment methods.
- Validation of these models against individual bone motion is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare kinematic data from a four-segment foot model to individual bone kinematics.
- To evaluate two marker attachment protocols: direct skin attachment versus rigid plates.
- To determine the discrepancies between bone, skin, and plate kinematic data during stance.
Main Methods:
- A four-segment foot model (heel, navicular/cuboid, medial forefoot, lateral forefoot) was used.
- Kinematic data were collected using markers attached directly to the skin and to rigid plates.
- Bone-pin data served as the reference, collected from tibia, talus, calcaneus, navicular, cuboid, medial cuneiform, and first/fifth metatarsals.
Main Results:
- Mean differences between protocols exceeded 3 degrees in 35% of stance data and 5 degrees in 3.5%.
- Maximum differences between any two protocols exceeded 3 degrees in 100%, 5 degrees in 73%, and 8 degrees in 23% of stance data.
- Differences were largest for navicular/cuboid relative to calcaneus and medial forefoot relative to navicular/cuboid motion. Skin and plate protocols showed smaller differences between themselves than with bone data.
Conclusions:
- Significant kinematic discrepancies exist between multi-segment foot models and individual bone motion.
- Both skin and plate marker attachment protocols introduce errors, with no systematic pattern observed.
- The choice between rigid body foot models and marker attachment strategies requires careful consideration due to inherent inaccuracies.
