QUALITY FRAMEWORK FOR FORCE PLATE TESTING

Following work done in C.E.C. project AIM 2002 CAMARC II, a framework of the relevant standards for testing equipment used in laboratories a nalysing human movement is presented. In particular, gait analysis lab oratories may provide a service for a clinical team considering treatm ent such as surgical intervention or provision of orthoses. In this ca se the analysis and equipment used in the analysis must have assured q uality so that the correct clinical interpretation of the results is p ossible. The operation of a gait analysis laboratory may be described in quality standards terminology as the operation of a 'special proces s'. The operation of a special process requires that particular attent ion be paid to procedures including confirmation of the equipment and regular testing to ensure correct operation of the equipment. In gener al this is difficult to achieve since equipment manufacturers still ha ve to address this technical requirement. Although difficult, these pr ocedures must be accomplished in the operation of a special process. P assages of the most pertinent standards are presented and a methodolog y of periodic confirmation and regular spot checking of equipment sugg ested to ensure its correct operation. Although force plates are speci fically addressed, the framework could be applied to other dynamometer s and measurement equipment.