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. 2021 Mar 15;18(6):3001.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18063001.

Assessing Stability of Crutch Users by Non-Contact Methods

Achilles Vairis  1 , Suzana Brown  2 , Maurice Bess  2 , Kyu Hyun Bae  2 , Jonathan Boyack  2
Affiliations

Assessing Stability of Crutch Users by Non-Contact Methods

Achilles Vairis et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Enhancing gait stability in people who use crutches is paramount for their health. With the significant difference in gait compared to users who do not require an assistive device, the use of standard gait analysis tools to measure movement for temporary crush users and physically disabled people proves to be more challenging. In this paper, a novel approach based on video analysis is proposed as non-contact low-cost solution to the more expensive alternative with the data collected from processed videos, two values are calculated: the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) of acceleration, and the Signal to Noise Ratio of the jerk (time derivative of acceleration), to assess the user's stability while they walk with crutches. The adopted methodology has been tested on a total of 10 participants. Five are temporary users of assistive devices with one being a long-term user and the other four novice users, and five are disabled participants who use those assistive devices permanently. Preliminary results show differences between novice users, long-term users, and physically disabled users. The approach is promising and could improve the assessment of crutch user stability, allowing for the correction of gait for individuals while using an inexpensive non-contact setup and preventing unnecessary falls.

Keywords: acceleration; assistive devices; axillary crutches; disability; jerk; stability; video analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Walkway layout in the lab.
Figure 2
Figure 2
OpenPose output of one of the participants walking with crutches.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Typical user in each group.
Figure 4
Figure 4
SNR for novice users.
Figure 5
Figure 5
SNR for experienced users, both disabled and temporary.
Figure 6
Figure 6
One experienced temporary user.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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