An estimation of knee and ankle joint angles during extension phase of standing up motion performed using an inertial sensor

Abstract

[Purpose] Motion capture system is difficult to use in daily life. The aim of this study was to propose an estimation model for knee and ankle joint angle measurements and locate body center of gravity (COG) of the extension phase during standing-up motion. [Subjects and Methods] Seven healthy male volunteers were enrolled. An estimation model was proposed for the knee and ankle joint angle measurements by combining the angle and acceleration of the trunk, based on readings from the inertial sensor attachment on the subject’s chest, during the extension phase. Joint angles and COG position were compared to those obtained by a motion capture system. [Results] The joint angles and COG position demonstrated high correlation coefficients which represent strong correlation between the proposed model and the motion capture system. The proposed model could estimate the joint angle during extension phase, with a maximum error of 4.58 degrees, as well as COG position in the horizontal and vertical directions with maximum errors of 4.48 cm and 3.19 cm, respectively. [Conclusion] The proposed system could be used instead of motion capture system to estimate knee and ankle joint angles; however, the estimation of the COG position was insufficient because of lacked accuracy.