A Novel Method for Stride Length Estimation Using Wireless Foot Sensor Module

Abstract

This work presents a novel method for the estimation of stride length (SL) from inertial sensor-based wireless foot sensor module (WFSM). SL variability is a widely used and clinically relevant spatial gait parameter. This work proposes and validates a novel method for computing SL by measuring the foot inclination angle and single-axis acceleration measured from WFSM. The foot inclination angle is used for detecting gait events as well as for gravity compensation to estimate the real acceleration of the foot. This approach thus requires minimum input information, i.e. foot angle trajectory and acceleration in only sagittal plane. The results are validated on a cohort of healthy subjects against a standard gait analysis platform. A set of trial data on 10 healthy volunteers were also analysed for outdoor walking to evaluate the performance against previously reported works. The proposed approach has the potential for applications involving real-time gait measurements.

Keywords:

• Gait
• Gravity compensation
• Inertial sensor
• Stride length
• Zero update

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors wholeheartedly acknowledge the support of all volunteers who agreed for the study. Our due thanks to Director, CSIR-CSIO, for providing all the necessary support and resources for the study. R. Das acknowledges University Grants Commission, India, for supporting his PhD through their National Fellowship Programme. Our sincere thanks to CSIR-CSIO Gait lab researchers, especially Dr. Neha and Mr Ajay Kumar, for their regular feedback.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ratan Das

Ratan Das is pursuing PhD (Engineering) from Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India, and is working as a research fellow at CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, Chandigarh, India. He received MTech in electronics design and technology from Tezpur Central University, India. His area of research includes wearable sensor development for gait analysis and assistive robotics. He was a visiting Doctoral fellow at LIRMM, Montpellier, France.

Neelesh Kumar

Neelesh Kumar is working as sr principal scientist in biomedical instrumentation Unit of CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation Chandigarh from 2001. He is also serving as professor at Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India. He completed his PhD in gait analysis for prosthetic development in 2012. He worked on projects of national importance like “Jai Vigyan” linear accelerator, functional electrical stimulation systemfor paraplegics, electronics portal imaging system, electronic knee joint and exoskeleton devices. His areas of interest are techniques of gait assessment, sensor development, design and development of assistive devices and methods to quantify rehabilitation. He has more than 85 publications in journal and conferences to his credit. Email: [email protected]