Investigation of the Reproducibility of a 3D Accelerometer-Based Gait Analysis System of the Tibia

Abstract

To determine the test-retest reliability of an accelerometer-based gait analysis system which measures 3D accelerations of the tibia. [Subjects] The study subjects were 10 healthy individuals. [Methods] Accelerations were measured during comfortable and regulated speed walking using a triaxial accelerometer mounted on the head of the fibula and lateral malleous of the subjects. Peak acceleration, time from the initial contact to peak acceleration and acceleration at initial contact during the stance phase in each direction (vertical, anterior-posterior, and mediolateral) were analyzed. [Results] By the test-retest method the average of intraclass correlation coefficients (1.1), peak acceleration and time from the initial contact to peak acceleration of comfortable speed were better than those of regulated speed. [Conclusion] We conclude that these parameters have reasonable reliability and objectivity for evaluating abnormal motion and instability of the knee joint during comfortable walking.

A Force Platform Free Gait Analysis

“…Recently, motion capture system with/and miniature inertia sensor device has been reported in the field of medicine and rehabilitation. However, most of the cases, physiotherapists's assessment has been limited for the kinematical issue not for the kinetics one [3,4]. Since, the kinematics is the result of the motion, from the viewpoint of the causal association, the cause of the motion is obviously muscular force and external force acting to the human body.…”