Gait Analysis in a Box: A System Based on Magnetometer-Free IMUs or Clusters of Optical Markers with Automatic Event Detection

Abstract

Gait analysis based on full-body motion capture technology (MoCap) can be used in rehabilitation to aid in decision making during treatments or therapies. In order to promote the use of MoCap gait analysis based on inertial measurement units (IMUs) or optical technology, it is necessary to overcome certain limitations, such as the need for magnetically controlled environments, which affect IMU systems, or the need for additional instrumentation to detect gait events, which affects IMUs and optical systems. We present a MoCap gait analysis system called Move Human Sensors (MH), which incorporates proposals to overcome both limitations and can be configured via magnetometer-free IMUs (MH-IMU) or clusters of optical markers (MH-OPT). Using a test–retest reliability experiment with thirty-three healthy subjects (20 men and 13 women, 21.7 ± 2.9 years), we determined the reproducibility of both configurations. The assessment confirmed that the proposals performed adequately and allowed us to establish usage considerations. This study aims to enhance gait analysis in daily clinical practice.

Efecto cinemático durante la marcha de la modificación medial sobre ortesis plantares de la técnica de adaptación en directo en el pie plano flexible infantil: a propósito de un caso clínico

“…Una de las limitaciones del estudio es la monitorización del individuo durante la marcha sobre tapiz rodante, pero este elemento potencialmente distorsionador fue una constante en los tres modos de captura. No obstante, la reproducibilidad del sistema es considerada satisfactoria en comparación de otros sistemas 31 . Otra de las limitaciones es que los resultados no serían extrapolables y los hallazgos podrían ser casuales o quizás únicos lo que indicaría la necesidad de realización de un ensayo clínico representativo.…”

Is My Patient Improving? Individualized Gait Analysis in Rehabilitation

“…We used the Move Human Sensors MoCap system developed by the IDERGO Research Group, selecting the system's MH-IMU configuration, which was recently described and assessed by Marin et al [17]. This system is based on next-generation IMU (NGIMU) devices [26], which measure the rotations via signal processing in embedded sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers) and are placed on the body with elastic bands.…”

“…It can support decisions regarding changing; adjusting (e.g., dosage) or discontinuing treatment [15]. Among the existing MoCap technologies, those based on inertial measurement units (IMUs) have been gaining particular relevance because they do not require external cameras and can be embedded into wearable technology [16,17].…”

“…Marin et al [7] demonstrated that it is possible to integrate an IMU gait analysis test into a rehabilitation service such as a medical test. In the same manner, Marin et al [17] proposed a gait analysis system based on IMUs free of magnetic disturbances, overcoming a limitation of this technology. Additionally, they demonstrated that this technology was reproducible and that the duration of the gait test was compatible with the daily practice of a rehabilitation service.…”

Treadmill-to-Overground Mapping of Marker Trajectory for Treadmill-Based Continuous Gait Analysis

“…This is why gait analysis is constantly being actively studied. Marker-based optical motion capture (MoCap) systems are considered a gold standard in biomechanical gait research due to their high accuracy [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. In MoCap-based gait analysis, markers are attached to the lower limb of subjects and the gait is analyzed using the trajectories of these markers.…”