A Novel Method to Identify Right and Left Impact During Running Using a Single Sacrum-Mounted IMU

This study introduces a novel method for gait analysis using a single Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) placed on the sacrum. his method is valid not only on level ground but also on incline and decline conditions. The method leverages the ‘crackle’ function, the third derivative of the sacral resultant acceleration, to identify right and left gait events. This approach is particularly effective in capturing the initial peak in acceleration data during foot impact with the ground, often overlooked by other methods. The study aims to demonstrate the method’s accuracy in identifying right and left side impacts during level ground, incline and decline runs across a range of speeds. The results are compared with other existing methods to highlight its effectiveness.