A simplified model for whole-body angular momentum calculation

Med Eng Phys. 2023 Jan:111:103944. doi: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2022.103944. Epub 2022 Dec 19.

Abstract

The capability to monitor gait stability during everyday life could provide key information to guide clinical intervention to patients with lower limb disabilities. Whole body angular momentum (Lbody) is a convenient stability indicator for wearable motion capture systems. However, Lbody is costly to estimate, because it requires monitoring all major body segment using expensive sensor elements. In this study, we developed a simplified rigid body model by merging connected body segments to reduce the number of body segments, which need to be monitored. We demonstrated that the Lbody could be estimated by a seven-segment model accurately for both people with and without lower extremity amputation.

Keywords: Angular momentum; Gait stability; Rigid body model; Wearable system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amputation, Surgical
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Gait*
  • Humans
  • Lower Extremity*
  • Motion