Computational Intelligence in Gait and Movement Pattern Analysis - Computational Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering - page 290

Computational Intelligence in Gait
and Movement Pattern Analysis
7.1 Introduction
Analysis of gait or human movement offers insights into information that can
help in the diagnosis and treatment of walking and movement disorders. In this
chapter, we begin by providing an overview of the commonly used biome-
chanical and motion analysis techniques used in gait analysis and highlight
the key features extracted from graphs for characterizing movement patterns.
The applications involving motion analysis are extensive, ranging from clinical
applications, rehabilitation and health, to technique analysis and performance
enhancement in sport. Many features and parameters are used to characterize
movement patterns, and the type of gait features in such analysis tasks range
from directly measurable variables to parameters that require significant data
processing. When analyzing movement, in addition to statistical techniques,
approaches based on machine learning have been used to create better models
for linking the inputs and outputs in the assessment of movement patterns.
We briefly discuss some areas of applications that have benefited from using
CI methods.
7.1.1 Biomechanics, Gait, and Movement Analysis
Biomechanics involves the study of the mechanics of living systems. Aristotle
(384-322 BC) is regarded as the father of biomechanics, his topic De Motu
Animalium or On the Movement of Animals is considered the first biomechan-
ics topic, in which animals were observed as mechanical systems. This concept
inspired him to explore questions relating to his observations. Biomechanics
has evolved such that there are now many applications including clinical,
rehabilitative, and sports-related fields. A most interesting aspect of the field
is that many disciplines use biomechanics concepts in their specific areas of
interest. Some examples of biomechanics include the exploration of forces and
moments acting on human joints, limbs and segments, the aerodynamics of
insect flight, and the characteristics of locomotion in many nonhuman species.
Movement in humans occurs due to complex interactions between the CNS,
the peripheral nervous system, and the musculoskeletal system. As illustrated
in Figure 7.1, Vaughan et al. (1992) identified the following sequence of events
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