Gait Analysis
Gait and Motion Analysis Laboratory
Gait Analysis
Extensive measurements of legs and pelvis are taken.
Reflective markers are placed over specific bony landmarks on the body.
These markers are attached to the skin using adhesive tape or elastic
wrapping. The subject walks on the walkway/treadmill. The markers are
tracked in motion by a twelve-camera optoelectronic motion capture
system (capturing at 500Hz) and integrated digital video recording
system (capturing at 250Hz). Forceplates in the walkway/treadmill
gather kinetic data as the subject walks over them (capturing at
1000Hz). A computer workstation equipped with a full suite of motion
analysis software permits the gait data to be analyzed. Kinematic and
kinetic data are integrated for mechanistic analysis and modeling.
Gait analysis allows us to explore the underlying mechanism of the
determinants of gait. We have used model-based techniques extensively
to explore fundamental issues of gait biomechanics and explore the
relationships between gait impairments and functional disabilities.
These combined approaches provide a foundation for developing methods
of elucidating the mechanism by which specific impairments produce
disabilities and specific interventions act to reduce those
disabilities.
