Gait Quantity vs Quality with Wearable Sensors

Gait analysis is useful for detecting changes that affect the bodies neuro-muscular system. Traditionally gait analysis has been done in biomechanics labs in hospitals or Universities that use motion capture systems and force plates. With advancing technology, it is now possible to perform gait analysis using wearable IMU sensors outside of the lab. This holds a lot of potential to understand how patients mobilize in their everyday lives.

An important factor to determine is what do you want to measure? Are you interested in how much walking occurred, or are you interested in the mechanics of the walking that occurred?

Gait quantity consists of step counting and time spent walking during a day. Generally, this information can be obtained from a single wrist or hip sensor. Gait quality consists of a more detailed view of how a patient is mobilizing. Gait quality metrics include spatial-temporal metrics (such as step time and walking speed) and joint kinematics (such as ankle and knee angles). The number of sensors required depends on what you want to measure. For example, if you want to measure knee angle, a sensor on the thigh and the shank would be necessary. However, if you wanted to measure step time a single sensor on the lower back would suffice.

This table summarizes the important differences between measuring quantity of gait and quality of gait.

As you can see, performing gait analysis with wearable sensors is no easy task. I’ve been working in this space for many years and can help you get the most out of your wearable sensor gait solution. Please get in touch for more information – patterson.m@biomed-data.com.