Normal and pathological human gait analysis using miniature triaxial shoe-borne load cells

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation Engineering

Background:

• Gait analysis is crucial for understanding lower limb function.
• Assessing amputee gait presents unique challenges in accurately measuring forces and pressures.
• Traditional methods may not fully capture the nuances of gait adaptation post-amputation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of miniature triaxial shoe-borne load cells in analyzing below-knee amputee gait.
• To compare the gait patterns of amputees with those of normal subjects.
• To explore the potential of load cell data for identifying gait deviations and prosthetic alignment issues.

Main Methods:

• Utilized miniature triaxial shoe-borne load cells to collect data during gait.
• Studied gait progression from initial prosthetic use to a stable state.
• Compared amputee gait data with that of unimpaired individuals.
• Computed the center of pressure (COP) patterns for both groups.

Main Results:

• Load cells provided effective analysis of both normal and abnormal gait patterns.
• Identified specific misalignments in below-knee amputee gait through load cell output.
• Demonstrated the utility of load cells in assessing functional mobility via COP analysis.
• Observed significant differences between amputee and normal subject gait parameters.

Conclusions:

• Miniature triaxial load cells are a valuable tool for quantitative gait analysis in below-knee amputees.
• This method aids in identifying gait deviations and potential issues with prosthetic alignment.
• Load cell analysis of COP patterns offers a robust measure of functional mobility and can inform rehabilitation strategies.