Investigation of walking motion with the aid of walker using accelerometers

Walkers are tools that are used to improve self-reliance when walking. In this study, unstable motions of the gait in persons using walkers were analyzed using tri-axial accelerometers and a motion capture system. Several markers were placed on subjects' backs and legs and two high-speed video cameras were employed to record the motion of the markers. The subjects were asked to walk around a test course at a comfortable speed. Activities performed on the test course comprised of standing, normal walking, fast walking, walking over a barrier, and falling down. We showed some results on the characteristic rules of the gait motion by using the walker. It was also observed that acceleration sensors are more convenient than the motion capture system for extracting characteristics from some data. The methods employing acceleration sensors are believed to be suitable for the discovery of the average gait motions of elderly persons living in nursing homes, and can be used to evaluate walking motion before and after rehabilitation.