Gait analysis with force plates in a running machine

gaitway is a complete gait analysis system housed in a running machine, developed and manufactured in cooperation of the two companies KISTLER and h/p/cosmos. What makes this treadmill unique is the ability to measure vertical ground reaction forces and center of pressure for complete, consecutive foot strikes during walking and running.

The instrumented treadmill system has been designed using a patented tandem force plate design and includes a patented algorithm which distinguishes left and right foot-strikes. gaitway simplifies the challenges associated with KISTLER force plate targeting found in conventional walkway systems.

gaitway offers the ability to vary cadence, speed and grade. It can be programmed for speeds as low as 0.1 km/h and up to 22.0 km/h (optional 30.0 km/h). The grade can be adjusted from 0 ... 25 % (optional -25% with reverse belt rotation). Trials lasting several minutes or more can be easily performed, allowing subtle changes in a gait over time to be quantified. In addition, data from six auxiliary devices can be acquired simultaneous.

Features

Gait analysis in a matter of minutes

at controlled speed

Gait re-education with real-time module

Ideal for both clinical and research

applications

Medical device approved treadmill system

including POLAR heart rate monitor

Removable handrail for use

with video analysis

gaitway measures the vertical ground reaction force and the center of pressure (COP) of consecutive strides in of walking and running for up to 5 minutes.

The KISTLER gaitway software is the power behind the complete system. gaitway collects the data from the force sensors located in the bed of the treadmill, separates the data into left and right foot strikes, plots the results, and quickly produces a report to show everything clearly and in an easy-to-understand format. The user can selectively print and export data to other programs.

A powerful database keeps track of trials by subject name, ID, doctor, therapist, pathology, or any other user-specified classification.

Multiple trials can be overlaid on a single graph, and the time base can be varied to view the data in absolute time, relative time (i.e. heel strikes aligned at time=0), percent contact, percent step, and percent gait cycle.

Gait Parameters

The gaitway software automatically calculates more than 25 gait parameters. The force measurements allow for calculation of force, center of pressure (COP), and temporal (time-based) gait parameters.

See the gaitway in the aircraft of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas / USA ...

® gaitway is a registered trademark of KISTLER. The tandem layout of the force plates in the gaitway treadmill is patented under US005299454A and other international patents.

Video h/p/cosmos KISTLER gaitway

- a short video about gait analysis with the running machine with english comment (9.7 MB)

h/p/cosmos kislter gaitway treadmill article

Walking on the treadmill Gaitway measures the vertical ground reaction force and the center of pressure (COP) of consecutive strides in walking and running. The treadmill simplifies the challenges associated with force plate targeting found in conventional walkway systems.

The Gaitway software automatically calculates more than 25 gait parameters (e.g. step length, step width, contact time, COP in the medio-lateral direction etc.). The force measurements allow for calculation of force, centre of pressure (COP), and temporal (time-based) gait parameters. Data from auxiliary devices such as EMG and goniometers can be collected via the treadmill data acquisition card and synchronized with the force data.

The treadmill is used for fundamental research into gait analysis and postural stability. It is used to provide a walking task for subjects exposed to whole-body vibration.

Please click the video to watch a walking subject exposed to lateral vibration.