New lower-limb gait asymmetry indices based on a depth camera
File(s)
Author(s)
Auvinet, E
Multon, F
Meunier, J
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Various asymmetry indices have been proposed to compare the spatiotemporal, kinematic and kinetic parameters of lower limbs during the gait cycle. However, these indices rely on gait measurement systems that are costly and generally require manual examination, calibration procedures and the precise placement of sensors/markers on the body of the patient. METHODS: To overcome these issues, this paper proposes a new asymmetry index, which uses an inexpensive, easy-to-use and markerless depth camera (Microsoft Kinect™) output. This asymmetry index directly uses depth images provided by the Kinect™ without requiring joint localization. It is based on the longitudinal spatial difference between lower-limb movements during the gait cycle. To evaluate the relevance of this index, fifteen healthy subjects were tested on a treadmill walking normally and then via an artificially-induced gait asymmetry with a thick sole placed under one shoe. The gait movement was simultaneously recorded using a Kinect™ placed in front of the subject and a motion capture system. RESULTS: The proposed longitudinal index distinguished asymmetrical gait (p < 0.001), while other symmetry indices based on spatiotemporal gait parameters failed using such Kinect™ skeleton measurements. Moreover, the correlation coefficient between this index measured by Kinect™ and the ground truth of this index measured by motion capture is 0.968. CONCLUSION: This gait asymmetry index measured with a Kinect™ is low cost, easy to use and is a promising development for clinical gait analysis.
Date Issued
2015-02-24
Date Acceptance
2015-02-09
Citation
Sensors, 2015, 15 (3), pp.4605-4623
ISSN
1424-8239
Publisher
MDPI
Start Page
4605
End Page
4623
Journal / Book Title
Sensors
Volume
15
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
License URL
Identifier
PII: s150304605
Subjects
Biomechanical Phenomena
Exercise Test
Gait
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Kinetics
Lower Extremity
Movement
Video Recording
Walking
Analytical Chemistry
0301 Analytical Chemistry
0906 Electrical And Electronic Engineering
Publication Status
Published