A Computer-Based Instrumentation System for the Dynamic Analysis of Foot and Ankle Motion

Past clinical and anatomic studies demonstrate the need to better understand foot and ankle motion phenomenon. Although current gait analysis technology can support such studies, there are no systems currently available. This study was undertaken in order to develop a 3D motion analysis capable for the study of the foot and ankle structure during adult ambulation. Clinical studies of pediatric gait have been reported by numerous authors in the past several decades [15]. These systems are used for pre-surgical planning, post-op follow-up, and assessment of both normal and pathological motion patterns. The focus of this study was to apply accurate and reliable motion analysis techniques to investigate the feasibility of describing complex, multi-segment foot and ankle motion. In 1990, a video-based system for foot and ankle motion was reported by Alexander in which 14 retro-reflective markers were used to describe stance phase parameters [2]. A VICON system (Oxford, England) was used in this study to provide automatic marker tracking during both stance and swing phases of gait