The evaluation of an inexpensive, 2D, video based gait assessment system for clinical use

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical potential of an augmented-video-based-portable-system (AVPS). The AVPS included a walkway grid mat made of vinyl flooring, flat paper bull's eye markers, four photoswitches mounted on tripods, a light-indicator, a video camera, and a computer with ProTrainer System software. The AVPS output was compared to a "gold standard" 3D Vicon Motion Analysis System both statically and dynamically over a fixed range (-90° to +90°) using a two-segment-goniometric-rig marked with both bull's eye and retroreflective markers. At each segment angle position, three trials of data were captured. The reliability of the AVPS was also tested using three raters. Further twelve, young, healthy subjects participated in a concurrent validity study in which they performed six gait trials which were simultaneously recorded by both systems. Both motion analysis systems showed low levels of intra subject variability in all kinematic variables indicated by the size of the standard deviations across the six trials. There were no significant differences between the motion systems with respect to the kinematic variables (P>0.05). The results showed a high intra- and inter-rater reliability for both the kinematic and temporo-spatial parameters. With respect to gait events the lowest ICC value for the intra-rater reliability test was 0.993 for the kinematic variables, and ranged from 0.941 to 0.956 for the temporo-spatial variables and 0.731 to 0.954 for the tibia inclination angles. The validation data suggest the AVPS is capable of generating highly reliable and repeatable data when applied to normal subjects and could be used within the clinical setting.