Reliability and Accuracy in Three-Dimensional Gait Analysis: A Comparison of Two Lower Body Protocols

2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Stief ◽  
Harald Böhm ◽  
Katja Michel ◽  
Ansgar Schwirtz ◽  
Leonhard Döderlein

The standard Plug-in-Gait (PiG) protocol used in three-dimensional gait analysis is prone to errors arising from inconsistent anatomical landmark identification and knee axis malalignment. The purpose of this study was to estimate the reliability and accuracy of a custom made lower body protocol (MA) compared with the PiG protocol. Twenty-fve subjects volunteered to evaluate the intertrial reliability. In addition, intersession reliability was examined in 10 participants. An indirect indicator of accuracy according to the knee varus/valgus and flexion/extension range of motion (ROM) was used. Regarding frontal plane knee angles and moments as well as transverse plane motions in the knee and hip joint, the intersession errors were lower for the MA compared with the standard approach. In reference to the knee joint angle cross-talk, the MA produced 4.7° more knee flexion/extension ROM and resulted in 6.5° less knee varus/valgus ROM in the frontal plane. Therefore, the MA tested in this study produced a more accurate and reliable knee joint axis compared with the PiG protocol. These results are especially important for measuring frontal and transverse plane gait parameters.

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Annette Kerkhoff ◽  
Heiko Wagner ◽  
Klaus Peikenkamp

AbstractIn motion analysis marker sets or protocols are mostly developed for gait analysis and it has been shown that the marker set used affects the results of gait analysis. These marker sets are also used for the analysis of high dynamic sports movements. Single-leg landings are a common tool to investigate functional knee stability and further to predict injury risks where frontal plane motion and loading seem to play an important role. Until now, it is unknown how the marker sets affect the motion analysis results of such high dynamic movements. Therefore, the aim of the study was to compare six different marker sets. Three-dimensional motion and force data of single-leg landings in 12 healthy subjects were collected. Six different marker sets consisting of up to 26 markers and two clusters were simultaneously attached to the subjects’ lower limb and pelvis. The results show that particularly, the knee joint angles in the frontal and transverse plane showed the greatest differences between marker sets with in part contrary joint angle directions and great differences in angle magnitude. In addition, the amount of joint load was dependent on the marker set used for analysis. These results show that one must be careful when interpreting and comparing data of the frontal or transverse plane during high dynamic movements.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 926
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Guzik ◽  
Mariusz Drużbicki ◽  
Lidia Perenc ◽  
Justyna Podgórska-Bednarz

To investigate whether a simple observational tool may be a substitute to the time-consuming and costly 3-dimensional (3D) analysis, the study applied the Wisconsin Gait Scale (WGS), enabling assessment which is highly consistent with 3D gait parameters in patients after a stroke. The aim of this study was to determine whether, and to what extent, observational information obtained from WGS-based assessment can be applied to predict results of 3D gait analysis for selected symmetry indicators related to spatiotemporal and kinematic gait parameters. Fifty patients at a chronic stage of recovery post-stroke were enrolled in the study. The spatiotemporal and kinematic gait parameters were measured using a movement analysis system. The symmetry index (SI), was calculated for selected gait parameters. The patients’ gait was evaluated by means of the WGS. It was shown that stance % SI, as well as hip and knee flexion-extension range of motion SI can most effectively be substituted by WGS-based estimations (coefficient of determination exceeding 80%). It was shown that information acquired based on the WGS can be used to obtain results comparable to those achieved in 3D assessment for selected SIs of spatiotemporal and kinematic gait parameters. The study confirms that observation of gait using the WGS, which is an ordinal scale, is consistent with the selected aims of 3D assessment. Therefore, the scale can be used as a complementary tool in gait assessment.


Author(s):  
M Barink ◽  
A van Kampen ◽  
M de Waal Malefijt ◽  
N Verdonschot

For testing purposes of prostheses at a preclinical stage, it is very valuable to have a generic modelling tool, which can be used to optimize implant features and to avoid poor designs being launched on to the market. The modelling tool should be fast, efficient, and multipurpose in nature; a finite element model is well suited to the purpose. The question posed in this study was whether it was possible to develop a mathematically fast and stable dynamic finite element model of a knee joint after total knee arthroplasty that would predict data comparable with published data in terms of (a) laxities and ligament behaviour, and (b) joint kinematics. The soft tissue structures were modelled using a relatively simple, but very stable, composite model consisting of a band reinforced with fibres. Ligament recruitment and balancing was tested with laxity simulations. The tibial and patellar kinematics were simulated during flexion-extension. An implicit mathematical formulation was used. Joint kinematics, joint laxities, and ligament recruitment patterns were predicted realistically. The kinematics were very reproducible and stable during consecutive flexion-extension cycles. Hence, the model is suitable for the evaluation of prosthesis design, prosthesis alignment, ligament behaviour, and surgical parameters with respect to the biomechanical behaviour of the knee.


2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Manuel Millán Vaquero ◽  
Alexander Vais ◽  
Sean Dean Lynch ◽  
Jan Rzepecki ◽  
Karl-Ingo Friese ◽  
...  

We present processing methods and visualization techniques for accurately characterizing and interpreting kinematical data of flexion–extension motion of the knee joint based on helical axes. We make use of the Lie group of rigid body motions and particularly its Lie algebra for a natural representation of motion sequences. This allows to analyze and compute the finite helical axis (FHA) and instantaneous helical axis (IHA) in a unified way without redundant degrees of freedom or singularities. A polynomial fitting based on Legendre polynomials within the Lie algebra is applied to provide a smooth description of a given discrete knee motion sequence which is essential for obtaining stable instantaneous helical axes for further analysis. Moreover, this allows for an efficient overall similarity comparison across several motion sequences in order to differentiate among several cases. Our approach combines a specifically designed patient-specific three-dimensional visualization basing on the processed helical axes information and incorporating computed tomography (CT) scans for an intuitive interpretation of the axes and their geometrical relation with respect to the knee joint anatomy. In addition, in the context of the study of diseases affecting the musculoskeletal articulation, we propose to integrate the above tools into a multiscale framework for exploring related data sets distributed across multiple spatial scales. We demonstrate the utility of our methods, exemplarily processing a collection of motion sequences acquired from experimental data involving several surgery techniques. Our approach enables an accurate analysis, visualization and comparison of knee joint articulation, contributing to the evaluation and diagnosis in medical applications.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan P. Brown ◽  
Gina E. Bertocci ◽  
Kimberly A. Cheffer ◽  
Dena R. Howland

AbstractBackground: Kinematic gait analysis is an important noninvasive technique used for quantitative evaluation and description of locomotion and other movements in healthy and injured populations. Three dimensional (3D) kinematic analysis offers additional outcome measures including internal-external rotation not characterized using sagittal plane analysis techniques.Methods: The objectives of this study were to 1) develop and evaluate a 3D hind limb multiplane kinematic model for gait analysis in cats using joint coordinate systems, 2) implement and compare two 3D stifle (knee) prediction techniques, and 3) compare flexion-extension determined using the multiplane model to a sagittal plane model. Walking gait was recorded in 3 female adult cats (age = 2.9 years, weight = 3.5 ± 0.2 kg). Kinematic outcomes included flexion-extension, internal-external rotation, and abduction-adduction of the hip, stifle, and tarsal (ankle) joints.Results: Each multiplane stifle prediction technique yielded similar findings. Joint angles determined using markers placed on skin above bony landmarks in vivo were similar to joint angles determined using a feline hind limb skeleton in which markers were placed directly on landmarks ex vivo. Differences in hip, stifle, and tarsal joint flexion-extension were demonstrated when comparing the multiplane model to the sagittal plane model.Conclusions: This multiplane cat kinematic model can predict joint rotational kinematics as a tool that can quantify frontal, transverse, and sagittal plane motion. This model has multiple advantages given its ability to characterize joint internal-external rotation and abduction-adduction. A further, important benefit is greater accuracy in representing joint flexion-extension movements.


Author(s):  
Jan Stenum ◽  
Cristina Rossi ◽  
Ryan T. Roemmich

ABSTRACTWalking is the primary mode of human locomotion. Accordingly, people have been interested in studying human gait since at least the fourth century BC. Human gait analysis is now common in many fields of clinical and basic research, but gold standard approaches – e.g., three-dimensional motion capture, instrumented mats or footwear, and wearables – are often expensive, immobile, data-limited, and/or require specialized equipment or expertise for operation. Recent advances in video-based pose estimation have suggested exciting potential for analyzing human gait using only two-dimensional video inputs collected from readily accessible devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets). However, we currently lack: 1) data about the accuracy of video-based pose estimation approaches for human gait analysis relative to gold standard measurement techniques and 2) an available workflow for performing human gait analysis via video-based pose estimation. In this study, we compared a large set of spatiotemporal and sagittal kinematic gait parameters as measured by OpenPose (a freely available algorithm for video-based human pose estimation) and three-dimensional motion capture from trials where healthy adults walked overground. We found that OpenPose performed well in estimating many gait parameters (e.g., step time, step length, sagittal hip and knee angles) while some (e.g., double support time, sagittal ankle angles) were less accurate. We observed that mean values for individual participants – as are often of primary interest in clinical settings – were more accurate than individual step-by-step measurements. We also provide a workflow for users to perform their own gait analyses and offer suggestions and considerations for future approaches.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. e1008935
Author(s):  
Jan Stenum ◽  
Cristina Rossi ◽  
Ryan T. Roemmich

Human gait analysis is often conducted in clinical and basic research, but many common approaches (e.g., three-dimensional motion capture, wearables) are expensive, immobile, data-limited, and require expertise. Recent advances in video-based pose estimation suggest potential for gait analysis using two-dimensional video collected from readily accessible devices (e.g., smartphones). To date, several studies have extracted features of human gait using markerless pose estimation. However, we currently lack evaluation of video-based approaches using a dataset of human gait for a wide range of gait parameters on a stride-by-stride basis and a workflow for performing gait analysis from video. Here, we compared spatiotemporal and sagittal kinematic gait parameters measured with OpenPose (open-source video-based human pose estimation) against simultaneously recorded three-dimensional motion capture from overground walking of healthy adults. When assessing all individual steps in the walking bouts, we observed mean absolute errors between motion capture and OpenPose of 0.02 s for temporal gait parameters (i.e., step time, stance time, swing time and double support time) and 0.049 m for step lengths. Accuracy improved when spatiotemporal gait parameters were calculated as individual participant mean values: mean absolute error was 0.01 s for temporal gait parameters and 0.018 m for step lengths. The greatest difference in gait speed between motion capture and OpenPose was less than 0.10 m s−1. Mean absolute error of sagittal plane hip, knee and ankle angles between motion capture and OpenPose were 4.0°, 5.6° and 7.4°. Our analysis workflow is freely available, involves minimal user input, and does not require prior gait analysis expertise. Finally, we offer suggestions and considerations for future applications of pose estimation for human gait analysis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-206
Author(s):  
Wanchun Wu ◽  
Haiyin Deng ◽  
Minting Zhong ◽  
Zhou Zou ◽  
Ruikang Chen ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Introduction: We applied three-dimensional gait analysis to assess the effects of enhanced active contraction of the transversus abdominis (EACTA) during walking. We sought to evaluate the effect of EACTA during walking in order to improve walking quality. Methods: Thirty college students were recruited and trained to perform EACTA during walking. We examined gait parameters under different conditions, including EACTA and habitual ACTA (natural walking with mild contraction of the feedforward mechanism of ACTA, HACTA) during walking using three-dimensional gait analysis. We compared differences in gait parameters under the two walking conditions using SPSS 16.0 statistical software. Results: The following gait parameters were significantly lower under EACTA conditions than under HACTA conditions (P < 0.05): stance phase, 59.151% ± 1.903% vs. 59.825% ± 1.495%; stride time, 1.104 s ± 0.080 s vs. 1.134 s ± 0.073 s:; stance time, 0.656 s ± 0.057 s vs. 0.678 s ± 0.053 s; and swing time, 0.447 s ± 0.028 s vs. 0.454 s ± 0.031 s, respectively. Gait parameters single support phase and mean velocity were significantly higher for EACTA than for HACTA conditions (both P < 0.05). Conclusions: Overall, the results revealed that EACTA during walking can improve gait. This method is simple, and EACTA training during walking to improve gait quality in daily life could provide a positive basis for people to strengthen the transverse abdominal muscle. Level of evidence III; Retrospective comparative study .


2013 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 364-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Edirisinghe ◽  
J. M. Troupis ◽  
M. Patel ◽  
J. Smith ◽  
M. Crossett

We used a dynamic three-dimensional (3D) mapping method to model the wrist in dynamic unrestricted dart throwers motion in three men and four women. With the aid of precision landmark identification, a 3D coordinate system was applied to the distal radius and the movement of the carpus was described. Subsequently, with dynamic 3D reconstructions and freedom to position the camera viewpoint anywhere in space, we observed the motion pathways of all carpal bones in dart throwers motion and calculated its axis of rotation. This was calculated to lie in 27° of anteversion from the coronal plane and 44° of varus angulation relative to the transverse plane. This technique is a safe and a feasible carpal imaging method to gain key information for decision making in future hand surgical and rehabilitative practices.


2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 390-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher L. MacLean ◽  
Richard van Emmerik ◽  
Joseph Hamill

The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of a custom foot orthotic (CFO) intervention on lower extremity intralimb coupling during a 30-min run in a group of injured runners and to compare the results to a control group of healthy runners. Three-dimensional kinematic data were collected during a 30-min run on healthy female runners (Shoe-only) and a group of female runners who had a recent history of overuse injury (Shoe-only and Shoe with custom foot orthoses). Results from the study revealed that the coordination variability and pattern for the some couplings were influenced by history of injury, foot orthotic intervention and the duration of the run. These data suggest that custom foot orthoses worn by injured runners may play a role in the maintenance of coordination variability of the tibia (transverse plane) and calcaneus (frontal plane) coupling during the Early Stance phase. In addition, it appears that the coupling angle between the knee (transverse plane) and rearfoot (frontal plane) joints becomes more symmetrical in the late stance phase as a run progresses.


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