A Thorax Marker Set Model to Analyse the Kinematics of Walking Without the Need to Place Markers on the Back

Eva Orantes-Gonzalez; Jose Heredia-Jimenez; Ambreen Chohan; Jim D Richards

doi:10.1115/1.4049160

A Thorax Marker Set Model to Analyse the Kinematics of Walking Without the Need to Place Markers on the Back

J Biomech Eng. 2021 Apr 1;143(4):044503. doi: 10.1115/1.4049160.

Authors

Eva Orantes-Gonzalez¹, Jose Heredia-Jimenez¹, Ambreen Chohan², Jim D Richards²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Education, Economy and Technology, University of Granada, Ceuta 18010, Spain; Human Behavior and Motion Analysis Lab (Hubema Lab), University of Granada, Ceuta 18010, Spain.
² Allied Health Research Unit, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire PR1 2HE, UK.

PMID: 33210127
DOI: 10.1115/1.4049160

Abstract

Background: Previous thorax models have been proposed for gait analysis, however these require markers to be placed on the back. This presents a limitation in the kinematic analysis of the thorax under load carriage conditions.

Research question: This study evaluated the validity and reliability of a thorax marker set that does not require markers to be placed on the back (HubemaLab model) when compared to 3 previously published marker set models.

Methods: 17 young adults were evaluated while walking at their self-selected speed. A 12 camera motion capture system was used to acquire the marker position data which was then processed using the respective models using Visual-3D. The level of agreement for the flexion/extension peak, right/left lateral peak and right/left rotation peak of the thorax angle and angular velocity; together with the range of motion and thorax angular velocities in the three planes was found between each thorax marker set, while the reliability was measured using the intraclass correlation coefficient.

Results: The ICC results for the thorax angle ROM and the range of thorax angular velocity between the HubemaLab model and the other models showed excellent to good reliability in all three planes. While the ICCs for the peak flexion/extension, peak right/left lateral flexion and peak right/left rotation showed excellent to moderate reliability in all three planes.

Conclusion: The new model could be potentially valuable for kinematic gait analysis under load carriage conditions which obscure markers placed on the back.

Keywords: biomechanics; gait; motion analysis; spine; validity.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Biomechanical Phenomena
Walking*