| Description |
The ability to walk is considered an essential motor function for normal human locomotion and transportation. Healthy ambulation is required of relatively all persons on a daily basis, and can be detrimentally affected by an array of different gait disorders. Following a diagnosis, traditional rehabilitative techniques often require the attention of a trained specialist, in addition to expensive instrumentation and training devices. Previous research has been performed regarding the use of insole mounted sensors to detect and quantify gait abnormalities with a comparable rate of accuracy to established systems. Sensory feedback derived from the gait data can be a versatile tool for use alongside established rehabilitative methods, with the potential to act as a standalone technique. This thesis presents the continuing research into the usage and implementation of force sensitive resistor (FSR) based insoles, with respect to the development of a portable and intuitive feedback device for use in clinical gait modification. The new system design, titled the Adaptive Real-Time Instrumentation System for Tread Imbalance Correction, or ARTISTIC, incorporates a wireless insole system that can transmit gait data wirelessly via a Bluetooth connection. An Android mobile smartphone application, or app, was developed to receive the gait data, and provide the user with different forms of sensory feedback in order to modify their gait. Subjects were tested using each of the feedback methods to determine the efficacy of the ARTISTIC system in modulating their gait away from normal. As a result of the testing, it was determined that visual feedback resulted in a statistically significant (p < 0.05) change in gait ratio for all 12 human subjects. It is anticipated that further improvements will be made, to address suggestions provided by the test subjects as well as to strengthen alternative forms of feedback, such as audible and vibrotactile cues. |
