A Gait Imbalance Evaluation System using Multi-Sensors

The purpose of this study was to determine the walking imbalance using the EMG(electromyogram). To confirm the effectiveness of the proposed encoder and acceleration, EMG sensor based gait imbalance determination system. This experiment was carried out to evaluation with a healthy adult male to 10 people. The Encoder device is attached to the hip and knee joint in order to measure the gait signal. The accelerometer sensors are attached at the ankle. The EMG sensors are attached on the vastus lateralis and anterior tibialis. SI(Symmetry Index) was used as an index for determining the gait imbalance. To confirm if the judgment has been made correctly, the heel, regarded as the cause of unbalanced ambulation, was adjusted from 0 cm to 6 cm with intervals of 1.5 cm. In the cases of the encoder and the EMG, the difference of 0 cm and 1.5 cm is determined into normal walk but the other difference is distinguished into gait imbalance. In the case of the accelerometer, the difference of 0 cm, 1.5 cm and 3 cm is determined into normal walk but the other difference is distinguished into gait imbalance.