Technical challenges using magneto-inertial sensors for gait analysis

Abstract

Magneto-Inertial Measurement Units (MIMUs) are gathering an increasing consensus in human motion analysis. However, applications such as clinical gait analysis require reliable, repeatable and accurate measurements of gait parameters up to a level that it is not easily achievable with MIMUs. We pointed out some specific technical challenges that we encountered in the use of the MIMUs-based H-gait system, pertaining to 1) calibration procedure and 2) high dispersion of ankle joint kinematic curves. We described how we solved these issues: 1) shifting from a manual to a semi-automatic calibration procedure and 2) obtaining an optimal MIMUs positioning on the foot. Joint kinematic results were validated against those acquired with a standard electromechanical system (STEP32).