scholarly journals Quantitative and Qualitative Running Gait Analysis through an Innovative Video-Based Approach

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 2977
Author(s):  
Laura Simoni ◽  
Alessandra Scarton ◽  
Claudio Macchi ◽  
Federico Gori ◽  
Guido Pasquini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gait Analysis ◽  
Video Analysis ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Treadmill Running ◽  
Stride Frequency ◽  
Indirect Measure ◽  
Walking Gait ◽  
Gait Quality ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
Quantitative Indexes

Quantitative and qualitative running gait analysis allows the early identification and the longitudinal monitoring of gait abnormalities linked to running-related injuries. A promising calibration- and marker-less video sensor-based technology (i.e., Graal), recently validated for walking gait, may also offer a time- and cost-efficient alternative to the gold-standard methods for running. This study aim was to ascertain the validity of an improved version of Graal for quantitative and qualitative analysis of running. In 33 healthy recreational runners (mean age 41 years), treadmill running at self-selected submaximal speed was simultaneously evaluated by a validated photosensor system (i.e., Optogait—the reference methodology) and by the video analysis of a posterior 30-fps video of the runner through the optimized version of Graal. Graal is video analysis software that provides a spectral analysis of the brightness over time for each pixel of the video, in order to identify its frequency contents. The two main frequencies of variation of the pixel’s brightness (i.e., F1 and F2) correspond to the two most important frequencies of gait (i.e., stride frequency and cadence). The Optogait system recorded step length, cadence, and its variability (vCAD, a traditional index of gait quality). Graal provided a direct measurement of F2 (reflecting cadence), an indirect measure of step length, and two indexes of global gait quality (harmony and synchrony index). The correspondence between quantitative indexes (Cadence vs. F2 and step length vs. Graal step length) was tested via paired t-test, correlations, and Bland–Altman plots. The relationship between qualitative indexes (vCAD vs. Harmony and Synchrony Index) was investigated by correlation analysis. Cadence and step length were, respectively, not significantly different from and highly correlated with F2 (1.41 Hz ± 0.09 Hz vs. 1.42 Hz ± 0.08 Hz, p = 0.25, r2 = 0.81) and Graal step length (104.70 cm ± 013.27 cm vs. 107.56 cm ± 13.67 cm, p = 0.55, r2 = 0.98). Bland–Altman tests confirmed a non-significant bias and small imprecision between methods for both parameters. The vCAD was 1.84% ± 0.66%, and it was significantly correlated with neither the Harmony nor the Synchrony Index (0.21 ± 0.03, p = 0.92, r2 = 0.00038; 0.21 ± 0.96, p = 0.87, r2 = 0.00122). These findings confirm the validity of the optimized version of Graal for the measurement of quantitative indexes of gait. Hence, Graal constitutes an extremely time- and cost-efficient tool suitable for quantitative analysis of running. However, its validity for qualitative running gait analysis remains inconclusive and will require further evaluation in a wider range of absolute and relative running intensities in different individuals.

scholarly journals Effects of a Multidisciplinary Intervention on Daily-Living Gait Among Older Adults With Parkinson’s Disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 231-231
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Hausdorff ◽  
Moriya Cohen ◽  
Natalie Ganz ◽  
Yitchak Green ◽  
Inbal Badichi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Rehabilitation Program ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Time Variability ◽  
Walking Gait ◽  
Gait Quality

Abstract Multidisciplinary interventions can improve gait and balance in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, it is not yet known if these interventions also positively impact the quality of daily-living walking. We, therefore, examined the effects of a multidisciplinary, intensive out-patient rehabilitation program (MIOR) as delivered by the rehabilitation center of EZRA–LEMARPE organization on gait and balance as measured in the clinic and on every-day walking, as measured during 1-week of continuous measurement. 46 PD patients (age: 70.05±7.71; gender: 31.3% women; disease duration: 8.85±6.27 yrs) were evaluated before and after participating in 8-weeks of physical, occupational, and hydro-therapy, boxing, and dance (3 days/week; 5 hrs/day). After the intervention, clinical measures of balance (MiniBest Test of Balance delta: 1.82±3.30 points, p=0.001), mobility (TUG delta: -1.78±6.15sec; p=0.001), and usual-walking speed (delta 19±16cm/s; p<0.001) improved. Daily-living step counts and daily-living gait quality did not change (p>0.5). In exploratory analyses, subjects were categorized as responders (Rs) and non-responders (NRs) based on changes in their daily-living walking gait speed. Rs increased their daily-living gait speed (delta: 10±14cm/s; p<0.001); NRs did not. Rs (n=21) also improved their daily-living gait quality measures (e.g. stride regularity, step length, stride time variability). At baseline, disease severity (MDS-UPDRSIII) was lower (p=0.02) in Rs (25.33±11.47), compared to the NRs (34.38±14.27). These results demonstrate that improvements in the clinic do not necessarily transfer to improvements in daily-living gait. Further, in select patients, MIOR can ameliorate daily-living walking quality, potentially reducing the risk of falls and other adverse outcomes associated with impaired mobility.

scholarly journals MGait : Model-Based Gait Analysis Using Wearable Bend and Inertial Sensors

2022 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Sizhe An ◽  
Yigit Tuncel ◽  
Toygun Basaklar ◽  
Gokul K. Krishnakumar ◽  
Ganapati Bhat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gait Analysis ◽  
Inertial Sensors ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Percentage Error ◽  
Daily Monitoring ◽  
Length Estimation ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Gait Quality ◽  
Clinical Environments ◽  
Traditional Approaches

Movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, affect more than 10 million people worldwide. Gait analysis is a critical step in the diagnosis and rehabilitation of these disorders. Specifically, step and stride lengths provide valuable insights into the gait quality and rehabilitation process. However, traditional approaches for estimating step length are not suitable for continuous daily monitoring since they rely on special mats and clinical environments. To address this limitation, this article presents a novel and practical step-length estimation technique using low-power wearable bend and inertial sensors. Experimental results show that the proposed model estimates step length with 5.49% mean absolute percentage error and provides accurate real-time feedback to the user.

scholarly journals Sensory-Motor Mechanisms Increasing Falls Risk in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 457
Author(s):  
Neil D. Reeves ◽  
Giorgio Orlando ◽  
Steven J. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Peripheral Neuropathy ◽  
Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy ◽  
Motor Nerve ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Falls Prevention ◽  
Motor Deficits ◽  
Falls Risk ◽  
Walking Gait ◽  
Risk Of Falls ◽  
Diabetes Patients

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is associated with peripheral sensory and motor nerve damage that affects up to half of diabetes patients and is an independent risk factor for falls. Clinical implications of DPN-related falls include injury, psychological distress and physical activity curtailment. This review describes how the sensory and motor deficits associated with DPN underpin biomechanical alterations to the pattern of walking (gait), which contribute to balance impairments underpinning falls. Changes to gait with diabetes occur even before the onset of measurable DPN, but changes become much more marked with DPN. Gait impairments with diabetes and DPN include alterations to walking speed, step length, step width and joint ranges of motion. These alterations also impact the rotational forces around joints known as joint moments, which are reduced as part of a natural strategy to lower the muscular demands of gait to compensate for lower strength capacities due to diabetes and DPN. Muscle weakness and atrophy are most striking in patients with DPN, but also present in non-neuropathic diabetes patients, affecting not only distal muscles of the foot and ankle, but also proximal thigh muscles. Insensate feet with DPN cause a delayed neuromuscular response immediately following foot–ground contact during gait and this is a major factor contributing to increased falls risk. Pronounced balance impairments measured in the gait laboratory are only seen in DPN patients and not non-neuropathic diabetes patients. Self-perception of unsteadiness matches gait laboratory measures and can distinguish between patients with and without DPN. Diabetic foot ulcers and their associated risk factors including insensate feet with DPN and offloading devices further increase falls risk. Falls prevention strategies based on sensory and motor mechanisms should target those most at risk of falls with DPN, with further research needed to optimise interventions.

scholarly journals Acute Effects on Impact Accelerations Running with Objects in the Hand

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 550
Author(s):  
Roberto Sanchis-Sanchis ◽  
Alberto Encarnación-Martínez ◽  
Jose I. Priego-Quesada ◽  
Inmaculada Aparicio ◽  
Irene Jimenez-Perez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Stride Frequency ◽  
Acute Effects ◽  
Shock Attenuation ◽  
Acceleration Rate ◽  
Recreational Runners ◽  
Impact Acceleration ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Extra Weight

Amateur runners usually run carrying implements in their hands (keys, a mobile phone, or a bottle of water). However, there is a lack of literature about the effects of different handloads on impact accelerations. Thus, this study aimed to analyse the effects of carrying different objects in the hand on impact accelerations during running. Nineteen male recreational runners (age 24.3 ± 6.8 years, training volume of 25 ± 7.38 km/week) performed twenty minutes of running on a treadmill at 2.78 m/s with four different conditions: no extra weight, with keys, with a mobile phone, and with a bottle of water. Impact acceleration and spatio-temporal parameters were analysed through a wireless triaxial accelerometry system composed of three accelerometers: two placed in each tibia and one placed on the forehead. A higher tibia acceleration rate in the dominant leg was observed when participants ran holding both a mobile phone (p = 0.027; ES = 0.359) and a bottle of water (p = 0.027; ES = 0.359), compared to no extra weight. No changes were observed in peak acceleration, acceleration magnitude, and shock attenuation in any other conditions. Likewise, neither stride frequency nor step length was modified. Our results suggest that recreational runners should not worry about carrying objects in their hands, like a mobile phone or a bottle of water, in short races because their effect seems minimal.

Clinical Indoor Running Gait Analysis May Not Approximate Outdoor Running Gait Based on Novel Drone Technology

2021 ◽  
pp. 194173812110509
Author(s):  
Lindsay Lafferty ◽  
John Wawrzyniak ◽  
Morgan Chambers ◽  
Todd Pagliarulo ◽  
Arthur Berg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gait Analysis ◽  
Treadmill Running ◽  
Initial Contact ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Video Capture ◽  
Poor Agreement ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Moderate Agreement ◽  
Outdoor Environments ◽  
Indoor And Outdoor Environments

Background: Traditional running gait analysis is limited to artificial environments, but whether treadmill running approximates overground running is debated. This study aimed to compare treadmill gait analysis using fixed video with outdoor gait analysis using drone video capture. Hypothesis: Measured kinematics would be similar between natural outdoor running and traditional treadmill gait analysis. Study Design: Crossover study. Level of Evidence: Level 2. Methods: The study population included cross-country, track and field, and recreational athletes with current running mileage of at least 15 km per week. Participants completed segments in indoor and outdoor environments. Indoor running was completed on a treadmill with static video capture, and outdoor segments were obtained via drone on an outdoor track. Three reviewers independently performed clinical gait analysis on footage for 32 runners using kinematic measurements with published acceptable intra- and interrater reliability. Results: Of the 8 kinematic variables measured, 2 were found to have moderate agreement indoor versus outdoor, while 6 had fair to poor agreement. Foot strike at initial contact and rearfoot position at midstance had moderate agreement indoor versus outdoor, with a kappa of 0.54 and 0.49, respectively. The remaining variables: tibial inclination at initial contact, knee flexion angle initial contact, forward trunk lean full gait cycle, knee center position midstance, knee separation midstance, and lateral pelvic drop at midstance were found to have fair to poor agreement, ranging from 0.21 to 0.36. Conclusion: This study suggests that kinematics may differ between natural outdoor running and traditional treadmill gait analysis. Clinical Relevance: Providing recommendations for altering gait based on treadmill gait analysis may prove to be harmful if treadmill analysis does not approximate natural running environments. Drone technology could provide advancement in clinical running recommendations by capturing runners in natural environments.

scholarly journals Effects of upper body parameters on biped walking efficiency studied by dynamic optimization

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 172988141668270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kang An ◽  
Chuanjiang Li ◽  
Zuhua Fang ◽  
Chengju Liu
Keyword(s):  
Body Length ◽  
Dynamic Optimization ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Optimization Method ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Joint Torque ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Walking Gait ◽  
Body Parameters ◽  
Walking Efficiency

Walking efficiency is one of the considerations for designing biped robots. This article uses the dynamic optimization method to study the effects of upper body parameters, including upper body length and mass, on walking efficiency. Two minimal actuations, hip joint torque and push-off impulse, are used in the walking model, and minimal constraints are set in a free search using the dynamic optimization. Results show that there is an optimal solution of upper body length for the efficient walking within a range of walking speed and step length. For short step length, walking with a lighter upper body mass is found to be more efficient and vice versa. It is also found that for higher speed locomotion, the increase of the upper body length and mass can make the walking gait optimal rather than other kind of gaits. In addition, the typical strategy of an optimal walking gait is that just actuating the swing leg at the beginning of the step.

Estimation of Gait Independence Using a Tri-Axial Accelerometer in Stroke Patients

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshifumi Kijima ◽  
Ryoji Kiyama ◽  
Masaki Sekine ◽  
Toshiyo Tamura ◽  
Toshiro Fujimoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Gait Analysis ◽  
Root Mean Square ◽  
Wireless Sensors ◽  
Gait Velocity ◽  
Mean Square ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Gait Quality ◽  
Healthy Control

The purpose of this study was to clarify whether a gait analysis using an accelerometer could estimate gait independence. Eighty-six stroke patients and 21 healthy control subjects participated in this study. Stroke patients were identified as dependent or independent based on their gait ability. The acceleration of the trunk and bilateral thigh was measured using three wireless sensors during walking. The root mean square, gait regularity, and symmetry were calculated from the acceleration to estimate gait quality. ANCOVA showed that gait regularity of the trunk and bilateral thigh were significantly lowest in the dependent group, regardless of gait velocity. A logistic regression analysis showed that the regularity and root mean square of the anteroposterior acceleration of the unaffected thigh were the key factors for estimating gait independence. This study suggests that an acceleration-based gait analysis facilities gait independence estimation, and is a useful tool during the rehabilitation of stroke patients.

Gait analysis

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Roberts ◽  
Sharon Dixon
Keyword(s):  
Gait Analysis ◽  
Motion Analysis ◽  
Visual Analysis ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Human Gait ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
3D Motion ◽  
Walking Gait ◽  
3D Motion Analysis ◽  
Technological Analysis

Gait analysis describes the process of systematically quantifying mechanical aspects of walking or running to aid in the examination of a patient/client. In the publication Gait Analysis: An Introduction, Whittle (2002) identifies the eye as being the first tool in this assessment, with technology being available to supplement this visual analysis. Technological analysis tools include two-dimensional (2D) video, three-dimensional (3D) motion analysis, pressure plates, and pressure insoles. The application of technology has increased our understanding of human gait substantially. This chapter introduces the basic tools of gait analysis and highlights specific considerations when selecting appropriate tools for the assessment of walking gait. Details of running gait are provided in Chapter 1.8....

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