What are the components of a gait analysis system? What is its principle?

Gait Analysis System Components and Principles

I. Core Hardware Components

Motion Capture Module

Optical Marker System: Uses reflective markers to track joint motion with submillimeter accuracy.

Pressure Sensing Walkway: An embedded sensor matrix measures plantar pressure distribution, with a sampling frequency of ≥100Hz.

Data Acquisition Terminal

High-Speed Camera: Uses multi-angle simultaneous capture with a frame rate of at least 120fps to capture details of rapid movements.

Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU): Wearable sensors monitor limb angular velocity and acceleration.

Assistive Systems

Calibration Device: Ensures spatial coordinate system alignment, with an error within ±0.5°.

Environmental Control: Standardizes lighting and background noise to eliminate interference.

II. Software Analysis System

Motion Parameter Calculation

Spatial and Temporal Parameters: Basic metrics such as stride length, cadence, and speed. The average walking speed for healthy individuals is approximately 65-95 m/min.

Joint Angle: Hip joint Dynamic changes from 30° flexion to 0° extension

Abnormality detection algorithm

Phase deviation warning: A stance phase ratio exceeding 60% or an abnormal swing phase indicates neuromuscular pathology

Symmetry analysis: A difference in stride length between left and right sides greater than 5% is flagged as an abnormal gait

III. Technical Principles and Hierarchy

Biomechanical Level

The gait cycle is divided into the stance phase (60%) and the swing phase (40%), comprising eight characteristic phases.

Coordinated contraction of the iliopsoas and triceps surae achieves center of gravity shift

Signal Processing Level

Green Light Scattering Technology: Light scattering from the paw contact area in rodent experiments is captured by a high-speed camera

Multimodal Fusion: Real-time registration of inertial data with the spatial coordinates of optical markers

IV. Special System Variants

Small Animal Analysis System: Using a transparent glass plate and green light illumination, it can quantify over 30 parameters, such as limb coordination.

Clinical Rapid Screening Version: Simplified parameter output, enabling basic assessment with a 10-meter walk test