A Review on Accelerometry-Based Gait Analysis and Emerging Clinical Applications.

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Biomedical Engineering
• Wearable Technology

Background:

• Gait analysis is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring diseases.
• Abnormalities in gait can indicate various physical and mental conditions.
• Accelerometers are user-friendly and non-invasive sensors frequently used in gait analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review research on accelerometer sensors for gait analysis.
• To emphasize clinical applications of accelerometry in gait analysis.
• To provide an overview of accelerometry-based systems and future research directions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of accelerometer-based gait analysis research.
• Focus on clinical applications and trunk accelerometry.
• Enumeration of common gait phases, parameters, and software.

Main Results:

• Accelerometers are a popular choice for gait analysis due to ease of use and non-invasiveness.
• Extensive applications exist in clinical settings for disease diagnosis and monitoring.
• Trunk accelerometry shows particular promise for comprehensive gait assessment.

Conclusions:

• Accelerometry is a valuable tool for gait analysis, especially in clinical contexts.
• Further research is needed to explore advanced applications and refine trunk accelerometry techniques.
• The review highlights the potential of accelerometers for improving patient care through objective gait assessment.