title: Comparison of step length estimators from weareable accelerometer devices.
abstract: Wearable accelerometry provides easily portable systems that supply real-time data adequate for gait analysis. When they do not provide direct measurement of a spatio-temporal parameter of interest, such as step length, it has to be estimated with a mathematical model from indirect sensor measurements. In this work we are concerned with the accelerometry-based estimation of the step length in straight line human walking. We compare five step length estimators. Measurements were taken from a group of four adult men, adding up a total of 800 m per individual of walking data. Also modifications to these estimators are proposed, based on biomechanical considerations. Results show that this modifications lead to improvements of interest over previous methods.
authors.affiliation: Electr. Eng. Dept., Oviedo Univ., Gijon., Spain.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Rafael C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Alvarez
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002138:Calibration; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods*; D004856:Postural Balance; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking