A System for the Real-time Visualisation of Force and EMG Information During Gait

Gait analysis is useful for various clinical and rehabilitation applications. A full analysis of gait requires the investigation of kinematic, kinetic and electromyographic (EMG) data. Traditionally, these information (external forces, moments, phasic activity of muscles) concerning human gait are presented to the clinician post-event in the form of printed data and graphs that are difficult to interpret because they are spatially and temporally divorced from the performance. A system has been developed which integrates data from a force platform and an EMG system, and overlays the combined output with live video images. Because the system presents force and EMG data spatially and temporally in synchronisation with the subject, it provides the opportunity to carry out insightful and intuitive data analysis. The potential of such a system in research, teaching, sports analysis and health care is significant. This paper describes the system and shows example of its application to gait analysis.