Title: A biomechanical model for the evaluation by electrogoniometry of spatio-temporal parameters during walking

Authors: Elvira Maranesi; Francesco Di Nardo; Giacomo G. Ghetti; Laura Burattini; Sandro Fioretti

Addresses: Department of Information Engineering, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; Posture and Movement Analysis Laboratory, Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Aging (INRCA), Via della Montagnola, 81, 60127 Ancona, Italy ' Department of Information Engineering, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy ' Posture and Movement Analysis Laboratory, Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Aging (INRCA), Via della Montagnola, 81, 60127 Ancona, Italy ' Department of Information Engineering, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy ' Department of Information Engineering, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy

Abstract: The aim of the study is to propose a new methodology to assess step length, duration and speed, using only two 1-degree-of-freedom electrogoniometers, positioned on hip and knee joints. To this purpose, a novel model was introduced, which represents the lower limb modelled as two rigid segments (thigh and shank). Model validation was performed comparing the results with those automatically achieved from two classic gait analysis systems (a 6-camera stereophotogrammetric system and GAITRite), during walking at three different speeds (natural, fast and slow). The absence of significant differences among parameter values estimated by the three systems indicates a strong reliability of the model. Thus, the study candidates this electrogoniometer-based model as a reliable and not expensive tool for an easy and flexible assessment of spatio-temporal gait parameters in normal subjects, and propose it as a valid alternative to traditional methods using foot switches, ground reaction forces, IMU or stereo-photogrammetric systems.

Keywords: gait analysis; spatio-temporal gait parameters; electrogoniometry; biomechanical modelling; locomotion; kinematics; step length; step duration; speed; biped walking; lower limb models.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBBR.2015.079328

International Journal of Biomechatronics and Biomedical Robotics, 2015 Vol.3 No.3, pp.129 - 137

Received: 05 Jan 2015
Accepted: 23 Jul 2015

Published online: 27 Sep 2016 *

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