Calculation and Comparison of Maximum Lyapunov Exponent in Different Direction: An Approach to human Gait Stability

Abstract

Objective: The goal of this study is to calculate and compare the Maximum Lyapunov Exponent (MLE) for the anteroposterior, mediolateral and vertical displacement of the markers attached to bony land marks of the trunk and foot. Method: Ten young and healthy male subjects (age: 26.5±3.27 years, height: 167.44±5.12 cm, and weight 69.5±7.36) participated in the study. Three-dimensional positional coordinate of eight different trunk and foot marker during walking on tread mill were analysed. Results: MLE values for anteroposterior displacement of the marker were found to be significantly different with MLE values for mediolateral and vertical displacement whereas MLE values for mediolateral displacement of the marker shows no significant difference with the MLE values for vertical displacement of the markers at significance level 0.05. Conclusion: Finding of this study suggest that it is essential to consider the displacement in all three direction to examine the real characteristic of a gait signal.