Measurement And Analysis Of Human Locomotion

This book addresses instruments, methodologies and diagnostic methods used to evaluate and diagnose human movement, locomotion and physical status in general. Starting from historical perspective, the idea of understanding human locomotion by applying technical measurement devices and incorporating measurement data into physical representation of gross body movement is presented and explained, an approach known as inverse dynamics. With this approach as a kind of umbrella concept, components of measurement systems including relevant signal and data processing methods are described. Modern instruments to capture body movement by measuring its kinematics, kinetics and surface electromyography (sEMG) are thus described; all systems being used dominantly—if not exclusively—in a movement analysis laboratory setting. Focusing mainly on human posture and gait, but including also examples of movement patterns from selected kinesiological and sports activities, the book attempts to present essentials of biomechanics and biomedical engineering approach to this subject matter. It illustrates how data collected and elaborated by modern engineering technology can complement traditional expert knowledge of a kinesiologist or a medical doctor. The book is applicable in the fields of sports, physical activities, as well as in medical diagnostics and rehabilitation. The examples of this book’s practical application might be in evaluation of efficiency of human gait, in evaluation of skeletal muscle fatigue in physical exercise, in biomechanical diagnostics of traumatological conditions requiring orthopaedic treatment and the like. This book can also be used in planning and executing research endeavours, particularly in a clinical context as a reference for various diagnostics procedures. It presents the lecture notes of a course carrying the same name within Medical Studies in English at the University of Zagreb for more than a decade.

The importance of measurements for the proper assessment of human locomotion is increasingly being recognized. The fields of application encompass both healthy and pathological locomotion as encountered in rehabilitation medicine, orthopedics, kinesiology, sports medicine, and the like. Measurement of Human Locomotion provides an up-to-date description of the instrument systems used for measurement of: kinematics of human movement; kinetic quantities experienced by the human body in contact with the ground; and, myoelectric changes associated with locomotor activity. Physical principles behind the operation of various measurement systems are emphasized, as well as signal processing issues that must be addressed in order to obtain and use quantitative measurement variables in biomechanics. The book explains how measurement data are acquired, processed and presented to the user in the environment of a modern, computer-based laboratory. The ultimate aim is to contribute to the processes of the diagnosis and treatment of locomotion disorders. The purpose of Measurement of Human Locomotion is to provide a concise but comprehensive presentation of the systems used for the measurement of human locomotion, with a view to the assessment and diagnosis of the phenomenon.

...written in a clear reader-friendly style by authors who are experts in their fields. This book provides a good introduction for those about to embark on the study of human movement through practical or theoretical means and would be useful as a source of reference on most library or department shelves.

Thanks to improvements in motion recording technology and computer data processing, real-time, full-body 3D representations of human locomotions are now possible. This book examines 3D analysis of human locomotion and discusses fundamental aspects of functional anatomy, motor control, and neuroscience applied to locomotion. It provides advice on setting up and operating a gait laboratory along with the essentials of instrumentation and the current modeling techniques for estimating muscle forces.

In recent decades, injury has begun to gain prominence as a public health and societal problem. Slipperiness and slip, trip, and fall (STF) injuries are among the greatest obstacles to reducing the injury burden. One of the biggest challenges in STF is defining and measuring slipperiness. After over half a century of serious research on what slipperiness is and how it can be measured, rapid progress has been made in the decade of the 90s. Measuring Slipperiness: Human Locomotion and Surface Factors provides an overview of basic concepts and definitions of terms related to the 'measurement of slipperiness' from the onset of a foot slide to a gradual loss of balance and a fall. The book includes expert group perspectives on human-centered (biomechanical, locomotive, perceptual, and cognitive), and surface-centered (roughness, friction) aspects and approaches. It addresses the injury burden of slipperiness, globally reviews existing slipmeters, and summarizes areas of consensus in the field of slipperiness measurement. Perhaps the most comprehensive treatment of the subject ever compiled, the book contains contributions from North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania including the National Laboratories of Finland, France, the U.K., and the U.S. A valuable, state-of-the-art textbook, it provides students with a useful starting point for understanding the many aspects of STF.

Researchers, graduate students, and practitioners alike will benefit from this state-of-the-art reference. It's the first book to explain in a single volume the essential components of three-dimensional analysis of human movement. Readers will gain a fundamental understanding of methods and technology used to capture, reconstruct, and process 3-D data; concepts and techniques of mechanical and neuromuscular modeling, including robotics; and the application of 3-D analysis. The editors have brought together contributions from international experts to create a technical manual that demonstrates the possibilities and potential pitfalls of 3-D analysis of human movement. More than 140 tables, diagrams, and photos throughout the book illustrate essential content.

After a quick survey of the famous pioneers of human movement analysis and the actual needs in different domains, this book presents the main types of systems available on the market (with the pros and cons), and then details the most widely used: the optoelectronic systems using passive markers. The theoretical background for joint kinematics calculation is explained, specifying the international standardization for parameters reports. One chapter is dedicated to measurement errors and their management, followed by several applications, mostly in the clinical field.

Provides an overview of basic concepts and definitions of terms related to the 'measurement of slipperiness' from the onset of a foot slide to a gradual loss of balance and a fall. Includes expert group perspectives on human-centered (biomechanical, locomotive, perceptual, and cognitive), and surface-centered (roughness, friction) aspects and approaches. Addresses the injury burden of slipperiness, globally reviews existing slipmeters, and summarizes areas of consensus in the field of slipperiness measurement.--ERGONOMICSnetBASE description.