Evaluating the Accuracy of Virtual Reality Trackers for Computing Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Human Movement Analysis
• Virtual Reality Technology

Background:

• Movement dysfunctions due to aging, disease, or injury significantly impact daily life.
• Gait analysis is crucial for understanding and evaluating these dysfunctions.
• Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly used in motion observation and clinical care, but its validity for gait analysis needs establishment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the accuracy and viability of a VIVE Virtual Reality system for gait analysis.
• To compare VR-based gait analysis with traditional instrumented walkway methods.
• To assess the potential of VR for augmented gait analysis in clinical settings.

Main Methods:

• A VIVE Virtual Reality system with trackers was used for gait analysis.
• Seven healthy young subjects walked on an instrumented walkway while wearing VR trackers.
• Key gait events (Heel Strike, Toe Off) and parameters (stride length, time, width, velocity, stance/swing percentages) were measured by both VR and walkway systems.

Main Results:

• The VIVE VR system demonstrated an absolute offset of (15.3 ± 12.8) ms for Heel Strike and (17.6 ± 14.8) ms for Toe Off events.
• Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) values were 2.6 cm for stride width, 2.0 cm for stride length, 17.4 ms for stride time, 2.2 m/s for stride velocity, and 2.1% for stance/swing percentage.
• These results indicate a high degree of accuracy when comparing VR data to the instrumented walkway.

Conclusions:

• VR-based systems, specifically the VIVE system tested, can accurately monitor gait parameters.
• The findings support the viability of VR technology for gait analysis, offering a novel approach.
• VR augmented analysis holds potential for enhanced clinical evaluation of movement dysfunctions.