Inertial measurement units: a brief state of the art on gait analysis

Abstract

Gait analysis systems are monitoring systems that establish a symbiosis relationship with Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) environments. Human locomotion analysis has a very important role always aiming at improving the quality of life both for individuals needing treatment or rehabilitation, as well as for healthy and elderly people. In fact, a deep and detailed knowledge about gait characteristics at a given time, and not least, monitoring and evaluating over time, will allow early diagnosis of diseases and their complications, and contribute to the decision of the treatment that should be chosen. There are several techniques used for gait measuring such as: Image Processing, Floor Sensors, and Wearable Sensors. Among the wearable sensors, has emerged an electronic device that combines multiple sensors designated by Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). This device measures angular rate, body's specific force, and in some cases the magnetic field, and this information may be used to monitor human gait. In this article, the aim is: i) to verify the sensors that build up the IMUs, and the resulting designations that the device may have depending on the sensors it contains; ii) to list the applications of the IMUs on gait analysis; iii) to be aware of the devices available on the market and the associated commercial brands; and iv) to list the advantages and disadvantages associated with the device compared to other gait analysis systems. Concerning the literature in the scientific community, although there are some studies that focus on gait analysis or IMUs, none of them aggregates the purposes that will be addressed in this article.