Identifying gait asymmetry using gyroscopes-A cross-correlation and Normalized Symmetry Index approach

Injury to a lower limb may disrupt natural walking and cause asymmetrical gait, therefore assessing the gait asymmetry has become one of the important procedures in gait analysis. This paper proposes the use of wireless gyroscopes as a new instrument to determine gait asymmetry. It also introduces two novel approaches: normalized cross-correlations (Cc(norm)) and Normalized Symmetry Index (SInorm). Cc(norm) evaluates the waveform patterns generated by the lower limb in each gait cycle. SInorm provides indications on the timing and magnitude of the bilateral differences between the limbs while addressing the drawbacks of the conventional methods. One-way ANOVA test reveals that Cc(norm) can be considered as single value indicator that determines the gait asymmetry (p < 0.01). The experiment results showed that SInorm in asymmetrical gait were different from normal gait. SInorm in asymmetrical gait were found to be approximately 20% greater than SInorm in normal gait during pre-swing and initial swing. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.