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Clinical gait analysis is used to provide a 3-dimensional quantitative understanding of pathological gait.  The resultant cause and effects help differentiate between pathological mechanisms and functional gait compensations. 

Who would benefit?  Assessment of gait pre- and post-op or pre- and post-treatment is beneficial to determine objective documentation or outcome measures.

In Litigation, gait analysis can be used to provide objective data.

Gait Analysis: Whole body motion data are collected using an eight-camera Real TimeTM motion analysis system (Motion Analysis Corp., Santa Rosa, CA http://www.motionanalysis.com/ ) at a sampling rate of up to 240Hz. A set of passive reflective markers are placed on bony landmarks of the subject. 

Kinematic data including joint angulation can be calculated.  Temporalspatial data such as gait velocity, step width, step timing, step and stride length are calculated with the used of motion analysis.

Ground Reaction Force: Three Advanced Mechanical Technologies, Inc. force plates (Newton, MA, model OR6-5-1 http://www.amti.biz/ ) are used to obtain ground reaction force data during gait trials.  Data is collected at 960Hz. Two of these force plates are fixed to the foundation of the laboratory.  The force plates are embedded in series into the center of a 10m walkway and can be separated by 26 cm or positioned adjacent to each other. 

Three dimensional kinetic data from the force plates is used to calculate joint moments and forces throughout the gait cycle.  The center of pressure data gathered with these instruments is used with the kinematic data to calculate estimates of balance.

Pressure Measurement: Plantar pressure measurement is collected by a bipedal in-shoe F-Scan sensor system (Tekscan, South Boston, MA http://www.tekscan.com/ ) at a sampling rate of 500 Hz. 

Thin (0.15mm), high resolution (4 sensels/cm2) disposable sensors are placed inside the shoes on top of the insoles.  The system is mobile requiring no cables to run from the subject to the computer allowing more freedom of movement for the individual.

EMG: Electromyographic data is collected using MA-300 EMG system (Motion Lab System, Inc., Baton Rouge, LA. http://www.motion-labs.com/ )  Surface electrodes are used to monitor the muscle activity and then synchronized to the motion analysis and force data to estimate timing of muscle contractions.

Kincom: Isometric or isokinetic data is collected using a KinCom isokynetic dynamometer (Rehab World, Hixson, TN. http://www.rehabworld.biz/ )