Description

Optogait is a state-of-the-art system of analysis that brings a proven philosophy of assessment to injury prevention and rehabilitation.

Classically, contact gait analysis has been precise, informative, and costly. This last attribute has limited its use to large biomechanical institutes. To control costs, simple contact pads have been employed. Contact pads, however, cannot assess dynamic motion.

Optogait’s innovative design affords doctors, therapists, and researchers the ability to become their own high-tech laboratories; contact analysis is now affordable and portable.

Systems range from one to 100 metres. When paired with a standard treadmill, all aspects of the gait cycle can be studied. Parameters (e.g., contact time, flight time, and pre-swing) can be measured to .001 of a second. Left and right differentials are recorded. Precise, objective data is correlated to determine the extent of injury and effectiveness of treatment.

All data is displayed in real-time through the software platform (affording instant decisions on treatment protocols) and paired with both lateral and sagittal video analysis. Data is stored over time, affording the clinician the ability to determine the effectiveness of treatment. Injury prevention is enhanced via objective data, showing increased asymmetrical tendencies before pain sets in. Chronic injuries are addressed via gait-empowered differentials, identifying the root cause of malingering problems. All aspects of dynamic motion are recorded to ensure your patient is functioning at his/her highest level.

Some uses of the Optogait system include:

One metre system on a treadmill: Have the patient walk at a slow speed. Observe the parameters of the gait cycle in real time. Make left and right comparisons of contact time, flight time, swing, etc. As you increase your patient’s speed, note if asymmetries are improving or worsening. When maximum efficiency is realised, record asymmetries and the treadmill’s speed. This efficient ‘rhythm of gait’ is a good starting point for clinical intervention. Footwear, orthotics, conditioning exercises, etc. may be employed to enhance patient symmetry. Pending the patient’s needs, gait protocols can be performed at any speed.

Larger installations of five metres or more allow the patient to walk or run through the machine on nearly any surface. Again, all parameters of gait are easily measured. Differentials, left and right, are noted. Speed and acceleration of each leg can be measured. Every motion in all directions can be analysed for symmetry. The length of the system is flexible. The width of the system can be a maximum of six yards. This affords the clinician the ability to lay out various ‘obstacle courses’ to analyse their patient’s gait.

Surface EMG testing is made simple. There is no need for contact pads under the patient’s feet to correlate data. By interfacing with Optogait, all data is easily recorded and evaluated.

Research Documents

• 3D analysis and determination of stride parameters for different type of foot strike in running - Dorian Deflandre