Walking/Running/Hiking

Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) are highly useful for tracking human gait due to their ability to measure motion-related parameters such as acceleration, angular velocity, and orientation. 

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Here's how IMUs contribute to gait analysis:

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• Data Collection from Key Body Parts: IMUs can be attached to various parts of the body (e.g., feet, shins, thighs, lower back, upper shoulders, head) to capture detailed motion data. This allows for the measurement of the movements of individual body segments during gait.

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• Gait Phase Detection: By analysing the patterns in acceleration and angular velocity, IMUs can help identify different phases of the gait cycle, such as heel strike, toe-off, and mid-stance. This is essential for understanding the timing and coordination of walking. 

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• Spatio-Temporal Parameters: IMUs provide information on key gait parameters like step length, stride length, cadence, and walking speed. This data is crucial for evaluating the efficiency and symmetry of gait.

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• 3D Motion Tracking: IMUs track movement in three dimensions, providing a comprehensive understanding of the body's motion during walking. This can be used to create a 3D model of the gait, which is useful for biomechanical analysis.

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• Posture and Balance Analysis: IMUs can also assess posture and balance during walking, identifying any instability or deviations from normal gait patterns, which is particularly useful in assessing fall risk in elderly or patients with neurological conditions.

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• Portable and Non-Intrusive: Unlike camera-based motion capture systems, 3DWear IMUs are portable and can be used in real-world environments outside of the lab. This allows for continuous monitoring over extended periods, giving more natural and context-rich data. 

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• Real-Time Feedback: 3DWear IMUs provide real-time feedback, which is beneficial for gait retraining in rehabilitation settings. Clinicians can use this immediate data to adjust interventions and track progress.

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• Gait Abnormality Detection: Deviations from typical gait patterns detected by IMUs can indicate abnormalities. This is useful in diagnosing and monitoring conditions such as Parkinson's disease, stroke, and musculoskeletal disorders.

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• Energy Expenditure Estimation: The data from IMUs can be used to estimate the energy expenditure during walking, which is valuable in sports science and rehabilitation to optimize training and recovery protocols. Overall, IMUs provide detailed, accurate, and real-time data essential for a comprehensive analysis of human gait like hiking, running, and walking, making them a valuable tool in clinical and research settings.