Exploring the Limitations and Potential of Inertial Sensors with OpenSim in the Study of Gait in Individuals with Recent Vision Loss

People with visual impairment (PwVI) can impact a person’s mobility and spatial perception if they lose their vision. Individuals with vision loss adapt their movement patterns due to decreased or lost visual sensory information by altering their movement patterns. This study analyzes human walking using two motion capture systems: the first is an inertial sensors system coupled with OpenSim (IMU-OpenSim), and the second is an optoelectronic system for motion analysis. The gait of a 25-year-old subject without visual impairments was evaluated, while the subject was instructed to close their eyes and was blindfolded to simulate the absence of visual perception. The data obtained revealed significant differences between the two motion capture systems. Vision was discovered to play an important role in the biomechanics of locomotion, particularly during certain phases of hip flexion and rotation, and knee flexion. However, these results are specific to these parameters and cannot necessarily be extrapolated to other locomotion variables. Although the number of participants is currently limited, the results obtained are satisfactory, and the development of this research is continuing with the recruitment of more participants with and without visual impairment.