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Clinical-oriented Three-dimensional Gait Analysis Method for Evaluating Gait Disorder
Published on: March 4, 2018
Methods for gait event detection and analysis in ambulatory systems.
Jan Rueterbories1, Erika G Spaich, Birgit Larsen
1Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI), Department of Health Science and Technology, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark. jrut@hst.aau.dk
Medical Engineering & Physics
|May 4, 2010
Summary
Gait event detection for functional electrical stimulation after stroke is crucial. A meta-analysis found diverse sensors, but challenges remain in usability and integration for closed-loop systems.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Engineering
- Biomedical Signal Processing
- Gait Analysis
Background:
- Post-stroke hemiparesis frequently causes foot drop, impacting walking ability.
- Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is a common intervention for foot drop.
- Accurate gait event detection is essential for effective FES device operation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and analyze current gait analysis and detection methods for ambulatory rehabilitation.
- To evaluate the suitability of various sensors and algorithms for real-world FES applications.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a meta-analysis of research studies focusing on gait event detection in ambulatory settings.
- Included studies employing diverse sensor technologies, from simple switches to inertial measurement units (IMUs) and advanced algorithms.
Main Results:
- A wide array of sensors and sensor combinations are available for ambulatory gait analysis.
- Systems range from basic force-based switches to complex multi-IMU setups with sophisticated algorithms.
- Existing methods face challenges in terms of ease of use (donning/doffing), aesthetics, and seamless integration into closed-loop systems.
Conclusions:
- While numerous gait detection technologies exist, further development is needed for practical ambulatory FES.
- Future research should prioritize reducing setup complexity, improving cosmetic appeal, and enabling closed-loop control for enhanced rehabilitation.
