Development and validation of a low-cost, portable and wireless gait assessment tool

Macleod, C. A., Conway, B. A., Allan, D. B. and Galen, S. S. (2014) Development and validation of a low-cost, portable and wireless gait assessment tool. Medical Engineering and Physics, 36(4), pp. 541-546. (doi: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2013.11.011) (PMID:24345892)

Abstract

Background: Performing gait analysis in a clinical setting can often be challenging due to time, cost and the availability of sophisticated three-dimensional (3D) gait analysis systems. This study has developed and tested a portable wireless gait assessment tool (wi-GAT) to address these challenges.

Aim: To investigate the concurrent validity of the wi-GAT in measuring spatio-temporal gait parameters such as stride length, stride duration, cadence, double support time (DST), stance and swing time compared to a 3D Vicon motion analysis system.

Methods: Ten healthy volunteers participated in the study (age range 23–30 years). Spatio-temporal gait parameters were recorded simultaneously by the Vicon and the wi-GAT systems as each subject walked at their self-selected speed.

Results: The stride length and duration, cadence, stance duration and walking speed recorded using the wi-GAT showed strong agreement with those same parameters recorded by the Vicon (ICC of 0.94–0.996). A difference between the systems in registering “toe off” resulted in less agreement (ICC of 0.299–0.847) in gait parameters such as %stance and %swing and DST.

Discussion and conclusion: The study demonstrated good concurrent validity for the wi-GAT system. The wi-GAT has the potential to be a useful assessment tool for clinicians.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Allan, Mr David
• Authors: Macleod, C. A., Conway, B. A., Allan, D. B., and Galen, S. S.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: Medical Engineering and Physics
• Publisher: Elsevier Ltd.
• ISSN: 1350-4533
• ISSN (Online): 1873-4030