Automatic force plate contact detection protocol for computerized gait analysis

Abstract

BackgroundThe usability and evaluability of a computerized gait analysis requires correct force plate foot contact, with the force measuring plates embedded in the ground, in order to obtain kinetic data. Research questionThis article describes a technical development that facilitates the process flow of computerized gait analysis. Software has been developed that automatically recognizes, counts and documents the correct force plate foot contacts MethodsA software program has been developed. Programming was done in Microsoft® C# using the ViconDatastreemSDK.dotNet® Dynamic Link Library (DLL) developed by Vicon®. The program queries the positions of the foot markers and the electrical signals of the force plates. Results and significanceThe program, which runs parallel to the Vicon® data acquisition software, simultaneously displays the information about the correct force plate foot contacts in a graphical user interface (GUI). After the measurement, an automatically generated protocol of the evaluable walks is available in tabular form