Gait Analysis platform

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Hi there,

I'm thinking of putting in a raised gait analysis walkway. Is there any recommendations on minimum length?

Rebecca

 

Why would you want to do this?

 

Well I want to get a 1m x 0.8m raised platform to more easily do my Foot Posture Index (its not a good look being sprawled out on the ground for this) and weightbearing tests like supination resistance, Jack's test etc. I have a spot in my clinic that would allow me about a 5m long platform if I wanted it.

I have a treadmill and video setup elsewhere. Some patients don't deal with the treadmill so well: Kids, oldies (who probably wouldn't get up the step to the platform anyway) and the occassional middle-aged woman who still thinks they have to push the treadmill belt around themselves.

So, yeah, was just thinking out loud. Waste of space you suggest Simon??

Rebecca

 

The trouble with short (5m) walkways is that the subject doesn't really have time to get into the rhythmic period of gait; they are accelerating and decelerating all the time. You'd really need to ignore at least the first couple of steps and the last couple of steps, which doesn't leave much to look at in a 5m walkway.

Moreover, if the walkway is elevated this creates problems in its own rights. Some years ago we did some research on an elevated platform. To the back of the platform was a wall (no where to go), to the front were railings and then the drop down to ground level (ooh frightening). We found the kinetics were apparently being influenced by this environment. People walk differently when there is a drop on one side! It's hard enough to get them to relax and walk normally on the ground because they're being watched, I would seriously think twice about putting the patient on a stage.

I hear what you say about being sprawled on the floor- I do it every day, although I squat or kneel rather than sprawl, it's never really bothered me. Why are you collecting FPI data are you involved in research?

 

Rebecca:

I would recommend against a raised walkway in an office, unless your office was large enough to have a sufficient size walkway to allow normal, safe walking, as Simon suggested. Most podiatry offices simply are not designed with a large enough room to safely enclose such a raised walkway. A raised platform with a step, of about 1.0 meter square as you suggested earlier, would be a better idea. Would probably save your back!

 

Thanks for the advice Simon.

I use the FPI for a few reasons:
1. I'm proud that podiatry has a valid and reliable measure for foot posture, better than just saying flatfeet or cavus foot type or writing in words each of the descriptors (though it does not directly effect treatment - the rest of the biomechanical assessment points me more towards a treatment type / orthotic prescription variables).
2. I taught the local physios FPI and it is nice for us to be on the same page when we talk.
3. I just want to be good at it in the event that I host a student on prac at some stage or if I am involved in research in the future.
4. I did gain a greater appreciation of rear/forefoot segments and the three planes of motion when I started using it.
5. It doesn't take long.
6. One day it might detect a change from an initial baseline measure eg: PTTD, and it would be nice to have that documented.

Rebecca

 

Gait analysis systems

I am a research assistant at a rehabilitation department and we want to make a biomechanics laboratory gait analysis within.

I have the task to get information about our possibilities.

We would like to analyse gait (angels, forces, make a 3D gait model), so we thought a system with 4 cameras and 2 force plates would be enough for it.

I did not find a thread about it so I ask you here what kind os system do you prefer.

(Actually I do not know high speed cameras or infra cameras are better for this).

Please help me if you can.

Thanks,

Spawn

 

Hey Rebecca,
When l was in Europe we saw a number of elevated gait labs.

In the Belgium uni they had about 2 mtr wide platform with cameras under the floor and every other view you could think of, but the best was Amsterdam.

In Amsterdam Uni, you open the door and the entire room is higher than the original floor, there are two wells where the clinician can sit on a chair making the floor height almost the same height as their head, no risk of a fall or that uneasy feeling for the client.

In some of the private clinics they simply put a well in the ground to one side of their gait lab, about 1 mtr by 2 mtr, were they stand, meaning there are now no steps for the client to encounter at all, l will try and dig up the photos late for you