Gait Analysis Using a Wireless Shoe-Integrated Sensor System

This paper describes a wireless wearable system capable of measuring many parameters relevant to gait analysis, and developed to provide quantitative analysis of gait outside of the confines of the traditional motion laboratory. The extensive sensor suite includes three orthogonal accelerometers, and three orthogonal gyroscopes, four force sensors, two bi-directional bend sensors, two dynamic pressure sensors, as well as electric field height sensors. The "GaitShoe" was built to be worn on any athletic shoe, without interfering with gait, and was designed to collect data unobtrusively, in any environment, and over long periods of time. The calibrated sensor outputs were analyzed and validated with results obtained simultaneously from The Massachusetts General Hospital Biomotion Lab during subject testing. The GaitShoe proved highly capable of detecting heel strike and toe off, as well as estimating orientation and position of the subject.