Comparing Gait with Multiple Physical Asymmetries Using Consolidated Metrics

Abstract

Physical changes such as leg length discrepancy, the addition of a mass at the distal end of the leg, the use of a prosthetic, and stroke frequently result in an asymmetric gait. This paper presents a metric that can potentially serve as a benchmark to categorize and differentiate between multiple asymmetric bipedal gaits. The combined gait asymmetry metric (CGAM) is based on modified Mahalanobis distances, and it utilizes the asymmetries of gait parameters obtained from motion capture and force data recorded during human walking. The gait parameters that were used in this analysis represent spatio-temporal, kinematic, and kinetic parameters. This form of a consolidated metric will help researchers identify overall gait asymmetry by showing them if the overall gait symmetry is improving and avoid the case where one parameter's symmetry is improving while another is getting worse. The CGAM metric successfully served as a measure for overall symmetry with eleven different gait parameters and successfully showed differences among gait with multiple physical asymmetries. The results showed that mass at the distal end had a larger magnitude on overall gait asymmetry compared to leg length discrepancy. It also showed that the combined effects are varied based on the cancelation effect between gait parameters. The metric was also successful in delineating the differences of prosthetic gait and able-bodied gait at three different walking velocities.

Bio-LSTM: A Biomechanically Inspired Recurrent Neural Network for 3-D Pedestrian Pose and Gait Prediction

“…As shown in Figure 2, it is desirable that θ 1 = −θ 2 (also see rest pose in Figure 1b). Similar symmetry can be observed for the two shoulder joints as well [41]. Cyclic leg movement is another important feature in human gait [25], [42].…”

Effects of extended powered knee prosthesis stance time via visual feedback on gait symmetry of individuals with unilateral amputation: a preliminary study

“…Perhaps most importantly, inter-subject differences, common among the amputee population [19, 20, 45] and suppressed in large group averages, are important to understand for improved prescription and personalized interventions. In addition, for evaluation purposes, it may be beneficial to develop and use more standardized and consolidated metrics of symmetry [46, 47] for a more comprehensive understanding of amputees’ quality of gait and comparison across studies. Note, for interventions such as visual feedback (and understanding specific behavioral changes as in this study), we support the use of targeted metrics, so the user is clear how to modify his/her gait pattern in response to the intervention.…”

Human Gait Analysis Metric for Gait Retraining

“…This form of a consolidated metric will help researchers identify overall gait asymmetry and improve rehabilitation techniques to provide a well-rounded gait post training. The CGAM metric successfully served as a measure for overall symmetry with 11 different gait parameters and successfully showed differences among gait with multiple physical asymmetries [14]. The mass at the distal end had a larger magnitude on overall gait asymmetry compared to leg length discrepancy.…”

“…The precursor to CGAM used a symmetry index processed using PCA measured using Mahalanobis distances. Without the restrictions of dimensionality reduction, CGAM served as a versatile gait asymmetry metric [12–14].…”