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Differences between Systems Using Optical and Capacitive Sensors in Treadmill-Based Spatiotemporal Analysis of Level
Dimitris Mandalidis1, Ioannis Kafetzakis1
1Sports Physical Therapy Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, School of Physical Education and Sports Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 17237 Athens, Greece.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 12, 2022
Summary
Optical and capacitive sensors show excellent agreement for analyzing treadmill gait, especially on level and downhill slopes. These systems can be used interchangeably for accurate spatiotemporal gait analysis.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human Movement Analysis
- Sensor Technology
Background:
- Modern technology allows for precise gait analysis under diverse conditions.
- Treadmill-based gait analysis is crucial for understanding human locomotion.
- Evaluating sensor agreement is essential for reliable research and clinical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the agreement between optical and capacitive sensor systems for treadmill-based gait analysis.
- To assess sensor performance during level, uphill, and downhill walking conditions.
- To determine the interchangeability of different sensor technologies in gait research.
Main Methods:
- 30 healthy college students walked barefoot on a treadmill with slopes ranging from -20% to +20%.
- Spatiotemporal gait parameters were measured using both an optoelectric cell system and an instrumented treadmill.
- Inter-system agreement was evaluated using Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs) and 95% limits of agreement.
Main Results:
- Excellent ICCs were found for temporal gait parameters and moderate to excellent for spatial parameters.
- Better inter-system agreement was observed for downhill and 10% uphill slopes compared to 20% uphill slopes.
- Increasing the number of LEDs in the optoelectric system improved agreement for gait phase durations.
Conclusions:
- Optical and capacitive sensor systems demonstrate high agreement for treadmill-based spatiotemporal gait analysis.
- These systems are suitable for interchangeable use in analyzing level and sloping gait.
- Findings support the reliability of combined sensor approaches in gait research and clinical settings.
