innovative motion products european technology for business ltd, codicote innovation centre, st....

INNOVATIVE MOTION PRODUCTS

European Technology for Business Ltd, Codicote Innovation Centre, St. Albans Road, Codicote, Herts SG4 8WH, UK Tel: +44 (0)1438 822822 Web: www.etb.co.uk

Diana HodginsEuropean Technology for Business Ltd

Using information on how a person walks to keep them healthy and active



What to measure

Measure how a person walks (their gait) in their natural environment.

This provides an objective measurement which can be compared to a healthy subject.



Applications

• Diagnosis of knee or hip problems or gait disorders.

• Monitoring the rehabilitation process after injury, identifying when a normal gait is restored, including sports injuries.

• Identify people at risk of falling due to an unstable gait.

• Setting prosthesis.



What is Gait Monitoring?• Information about how you move when walking

– Stride duration – Knee flexion angle – Range of Motion (RoM)– Thigh and calf movement – Adduction/ abduction & RoM– Asymmetry between the left and right leg

• Can be performed when

– On level ground, for example in a corridor– On slopes, gravel, different surfaces etc– On stairs



The portable system

Four small, light (54g) sensors

Each contain 3 gyroscopes and a 3-axis accelerometer

Store data for immediate analysis after the test



How the sensors are attached



The system in use at a Day centre



Key gait measurements

• Stride duration (mean and variability)Increases for people with a problem walking

• Knee flexionReduces for those with a problem walking

• Difference in knee flexion between the left and right

Increases for people with a problem with one leg or hip



Key gait measurements

• Abduction/ adductionPuts incorrect loading on joints, alters balance

• Flexion on loadReduces for those with knee OA

• Difference in thigh or calf between the left and right

Identifies where the problem is



Traffic light systemHealthy people across the age range 18 to 97 have been measured.

Limits for the 14 parameters summarised from the gait cycle ascertained.

Amber and red flags given if the parameter falls outside the healthy range.



Range of Motion Score % 100.0 Left Right Range knee 63.43 58.19 Range thigh 41.13 43.58 Range calf 72.39 70.02 Average Duration (s) 1.06 Quality of Gait Score % 89.3 Calf medial-lateral (%) 50.05 40.93 Thigh medial-lateral (%) 20.16 15.24 Swing Time (%) 48.00 48.00 Stance Flexion 19.05 11.59 Symmetry Score % 100.0 Knee (%) 8.60 Thigh (%) -5.78 Calf (%) 3.33 Stance (%) 39.17 Swing Difference (%) 0.00

Example from 81 year old lady who had a stroke 18 months ago



You can have a good gait at any age

Excellent symmetry and knee flexion

Blue – left knee, Green – right knee

Attends weekly line dancing classes 73 years young

Young adult who rides horses and does kick boxing 23 years old

Excellent symmetry and knee flexion



Elderly person following a fall

Good symmetry and flexion

Poor symmetry with minimal flexion on left knee

Blue – left knee, Green – right knee

Day after a fall,using Roller frame

2 months after fall, weekly balance classes, no Roller frame



People with early stage osteoarthritisDifficult to diagnose

Pain is not a good indicator

Caught early enough can be treated with drugs or exercises rather than surgery

Improve the gait profile and reduce the pain



Profile of person with knee OA

Healthy Person – Good flexion on load Person with knee OA- Poor knee flexion on load



Work at the London Knee ClinicAll new patients are measured and findings form part of the diagnosis.

Patients are monitored during rehabilitation to ensure the knee is being correctly exercised.

Patients can see for themselves what is happening as they walk and can monitor their progress after treatment.



FindingsPeople are happy to be measured and find the results useful. It provides a goal if improvements are necessary.

Gait abnormalities occur in people of all ages and if untreated will ultimately lead to problems such as osteoarthritis.

During rehabilitation it is important that a normal healthy gait is resumed.



Our future visionGait should be monitored regularly and

abnormalities corrected by exercises where possible

All surgical intervention involving knee or hip should have a pre and post operative gait test

Sports injuries often result in asymmetric gait patterns. These should be quantified and corrected.

Every clinic treating lower limbs should have one!



Thank youTo all the people that have happily volunteered to

be monitored

To the London Knee clinic and Longmead Day Centre for providing real case study examples

Diana Hodgins [email protected]

00 44 1438 822822

innovative motion products european technology for business ltd, codicote innovation centre, st....

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