Quantitative Gait Feature Assessment on Two-Dimensional Body Axis Projection Planes Converted from Three-Dimensional...

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Medical Imaging
• Deep Learning

Background:

• Pathological gaits are difficult to quantify objectively.
• Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) often presents with gait disturbances.
• Accurate gait analysis is crucial for diagnosis and treatment monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively assess pathological gaits using 3D pose estimation.
• To develop and validate indices for identifying specific gait abnormalities.
• To explore the utility of body axis plane projections for gait analysis.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Three-Dimensional Pose Tracker for Gait Test (TDPT-GT) application for 3D coordinate estimation.
• Recorded gait patterns (normal, shuffling, short-stepped, wide-based) in healthy volunteers and patients with iNPH.
• Calculated 2D relative coordinates from 3D data by projecting onto sagittal, coronal, and axial planes.

Main Results:

• Identified candidate indices for shuffling gait: hip angle range < 30° and relative vertical heel amplitude < 0.1 (sagittal plane).
• Identified candidate index for short-stepped gait: knee angle range < 45° (sagittal plane).
• Identified candidate index for wide-based gait: leg outward shift > 0.1 (axial plane).

Conclusions:

• 2D coordinates derived from 3D pose estimation on body axis planes effectively quantify pathological gait features.
• The TDPT-GT application provides a viable method for objective gait assessment.
• This approach aids in the quantitative diagnosis of gait disorders like iNPH.