Gait analysis of normal subjects by using force sensor and six inertial sensor

Abstract

We developed a system to measure foot force, acceleration and angular velocity in gait. Then we achieved the outputs by using seven force sensors and six-axis inertial sensor for each shoe. In the experiment, we analyzed gait of three normal subjects by using the proposed system. An analysis method consists of three steps. First, we specified walking cycle from the value of the acceleration. Second, we calculated the excursion of ankle joint by integrating the angular velocity. Third, we specified foremost point and hindmost point of gravity center in walking cycle from the seven force sensors and we calculated anteroposterior distance of gravity center. Analysis objects were excursion of ankle joint and anteroposterior distance of gravity center. We experimented a stride length of the subjects as 3 patterns of 10 cm, 50 cm, and 100 cm. As a tendency, the ankle excursion was small when the stride was small.