Development of walking ability evaluation method with accelerometer and gyrometer

Fall accident is one of the problems in aged society. And Joint disease is also severe, especially in the field of rehabilitation. They are related to the walking ability. Thus, the evaluation and training of walking ability are important to prevent fall accidents. Conventionally, it needs long term of experiments to evaluate the walking ability by motion capture systems, force plates, and so on. In addition, the conventional methods spend costs expensively. The evaluation should be obtained easily in order to reduce the subjects’ burden. In this study, evaluation by the accelerometer and gyrometer was practiced in place of the conventional methods. Two 8ch acceleration and gyro sensors (RF10, MicroStone Corporation) were installed to a subject’s sacrum and vertebra to measure his spine stick picture motion during his walking. Power spectrum, movement track and RMS were used for comparison with measurements of motion capture system (Vicon). All the results have shown the validity and reliability of the simple measurement method. It was revealed that the stick picture motion has the possibility to be applied to the walking ability indicator.