Computer aided study of human locomotion

A subject walking in front of a coded background is photographed with a high speed movie camera. For greater accuracy, the camera is moved parallel to the subject at his walking speed. The successive film frames are analyzed by a flying spot scanner under computer control. The computer program determines the location of the camera using the background code and finds the position co-ordinates of marker dots placed over various points of interest on the subject's body and limbs. From the location of the marker dots the trajectories of the various limbs and joints can be obtained in graphical form, as well as data pertaining to joint velocities and angular displacements. It is felt that this information can have important clinical use for assessing walking disabilities and for measuring gait improvement in amputees.