GAIT INITIATION, DEVELOPMENT OF A MEASUREMENT SYSTEM FOR USE IN A CLINICAL ENVIRONMENT

Gait initiation is a part Of daily mobility, its restoration thus play s a major role in the rehabilitation of hemiparetic patients that have a higher risk of falling. This study presents a clinically applicable system for the analysis of gait initiation of healthy persons and hem iparetic patients. For this purpose we have analysed the triaxial grou nd reaction forces yielding the displacement of the centre of pressure (CP) and, with a two-fold integration of ground reaction forces, the centre of mass (CM). These are descriptive parameters of the dynamics and symmetry of gait initiation that could predict the risk of falling . Hemiparetic patients showed a distinct behaviour when starting eithe r with their affected or non-affected limb. Future applications includ e individual assessment of patients with gait disabilities and validat ion of physiotherapy strategies.