Analysis of Cycle Gait on Different Surfaces Using Inertial Sensors

The primary objective of this study was to compare the kinematics of various body areas, including the pelvic region, quadriceps, knee, and anterior tibial region, during walking on different surfaces: regular, regular with forced gait, and irregular gait. Low-cost wireless IMUs (Inertial Measurement Units) were utilized for data collection. A group of ten healthy individuals participated in the study, and the 10MWT (10-m Walk Test) was employed. The sensor measurements were analyzed, and through a mathematical analysis using polynomial regression with the least squares method, predictive curves were derived. These curves were then compared with established models from previous research. The results revealed a mean square error (RMSE) of 0.6925° between the predictions and the actual measurements. Additionally, a secondary RMSE of 4.2651° was obtained when comparing the predicted curves with the existing database. These findings suggest that gait patterns differ significantly based on the walking surface, primarily due to the irregularities present in each terrain. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that the developed devices have potential applications in medical fields.