Article

Although, several thorax models have been proposed for clinical gait analysis,
none has received widespread acceptance nor been subject to any extensive
validation work, especially for the marker set to use. The aim of this study was
thus to determine the optimal and minimal makers' placement on the thorax for
clinical gait analysis. Ten healthy subjects have performed a series of movements
(arm, head, trunk) with large amplitude during walking. Reflective markers were
taped on the thorax (C7, T2, T4, T6, T8, T10, T12, sternum, clavicles and ribs)
and their 3D positions were captured with an opto-electronic system. Each
combination of 3 markers has been tested. The global error of each model was
computed with the estimated position of the markers considering the thorax
segment as a solid segment. Two families of marker sets were identified with the
lowest error. The first family was composed by two anterior and one posterior
marker on the thorax (incisura jugularis (IJ), xiphoid process, and T8). The
second family was composed by two posterior and one anterior maker (IJ, T2 and T8
or T10). Even, if these two families of marker sets presented a similar error for
marker position, the angles obtained from these marker sets showed large
differences especially for the axial rotation movement of the trunk (up to 40.1
degrees ). The optimal and minimal maker set identified with a variety of large
movements of the trunk, head and arms was IJ, T2 and T8 or T10.
CI - Copyright (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS