Gait analysis & biomechanical modelling

To help improve knee replacements or understanding of knee injuries, gait analysis of human locomotion can be performed to identify kinematics and dynamics of the specific joint. Specific trials are performed on the subjects to determine how the knee handles the tasks of walking on flat ground and climbing up or down stairs. A marker set must be used as a non-invasive method to model the internal motions. This project aims to compare multiple different marker sets to find the most accurate and reliable method for computer modelling. The project has shown consistent improvement in the use of a 24 marker set over the standard modified Helen-Hayes 16 marker set. Inter-trial tests of subjects from two age groups was shown to decrease standard deviation between trials, implying a more reliable marker set for tracing the skeleton gait.