Automated feature assessment in instrumented gait analysis.
A methodological modular framework is presented for automated assessment of gait patterns. The processing steps of data selection, gait parameter calculation and evaluation are not limited to a specific field of application and are largely independent of case-based clinical expert knowledge. For these steps, a variety of mathematical methods was used and the validity of the approach to assess gait parameters tested by applying it to the clinical problem of Botulinum Toxin A (BTX-A) treatment of the spastic equinus foot. A set of 3670 parameters was ranked by relevance for classification of a group of 42 diplegic cerebral palsy (CP) patients and an age-matched reference group. The same procedure was performed for pre- and post-therapeutic data sets of these patients. Gait parameters of high relevance coincided well with results of previous studies based on partly manual and more subjective parameter selection. A norm distance measure is introduced to facilitate the quantification of deviations from a normal walking pattern and can be used as an overall scalar measure to evaluate differences in gait patterns or as a set of measures attributing each joint angle separately.
Wolf
Sebastian
S
Orthopädische Universitätsklinik Heidelberg, Schlierbacher Landstr. 200a, D-69118 Heidelberg, Germany. Sebastian.Wolf@ok.uni-hd.de
Loose
Tobias
T
Schablowski
Matthias
M
Döderlein
Leonhard
L
Rupp
Rüdiger
R
Gerner
Hans Jürgen
HJ
Bretthauer
Georg
G
Mikut
Ralf
R
D001331:Automation; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D004863:Equinus Deformity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A