title: Instrumented staircase for ground reaction measurement.
abstract: A staircase was developed to record ground reactions during stair climbing at different slopes (inclinations). Each step is instrumented with six strain-gauge-based force transducers which allow the measurement of three-dimensional ground reaction force and moment as well as the centre of pressure (COP) location. A specific sensor arrangement permits accurate recording, especially of the COP location. The overall design of the staircase and details of a single instrumented step are presented. Static and dynamic characteristics have been evaluated by different experimental procedures. Preliminary results of ground reaction forces are shown.
authors.affiliation: Centro di Bioingegneria, Fondazione Don C. Gnocchi, I.R.C.C.S., Politecnico di Milano, Italy. riener@lsr.e-technik.tu-muenchen.de
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riener
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rabuffetti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frigo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quintern
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001698:Biomedical Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014160:Transducers, Pressure