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Published on: August 8, 2019
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Validity Evaluation of an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) in Gait Analysis Using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM)
1Motion Innovation Center, Korea National Sport University, Seoul 05541, Korea.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 2, 2021
Summary
Inertial measurement units (IMUs) show promise for gait analysis, but accuracy varies. While hip joint data is reliable, knee and ankle motion during the swing phase require further validation for clinical use.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Gait Analysis
- Wearable Sensors
Background:
- Inertial measurement units (IMUs) offer a potential alternative to traditional motion-capture systems (Mocap) for gait analysis.
- Validation of IMU performance is crucial for their clinical adoption in assessing human movement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the validity of IMUs for lower-extremity joint angle measurement during gait analysis.
- To compare IMU-derived gait parameters with gold-standard Mocap data using statistical parametric mapping (SPM).
Main Methods:
- Ten healthy males walked on a treadmill at self-selected speeds.
- Lower-extremity joint angles (hip, knee, ankle) were simultaneously recorded using IMUs and Mocap.
- IMU drift was minimized through pre-measurement calibration.
Main Results:
- Hip joint angle measurements showed no significant differences between IMUs and Mocap.
- Significant discrepancies were observed in knee and ankle joint angles, particularly during the swing phase (p < 0.05).
- Differences were noted in both discrete (range of motion) and continuous (waveform) gait variables.
Conclusions:
- IMU-based gait analysis demonstrates high validity for the stance phase.
- Further investigation and refinement are needed to improve the accuracy of IMU data during the swing phase for clinical applications.
