An instrumented treadmill for musculoskeletal gait analysis and reduced-sedentarity activities

所需设备-在步态分析中，参与者通常走在中间有测力板的人行道上。由于受试者必须完全用一只脚踩在每个力板上，因此需要进行几次试验，这会导致疾病患者的疲劳。为了避免这一繁琐的过程，需要一台装有6D力传感器的双带跑步机。它将在几个循环中独立地测量左脚和右脚下的三维力和力矩。 研究计划--全仪表化跑步机将是7个工程研究项目的核心部分，这些项目已经涉及12名研究生。NSERC的项目包括2个合作研发补助金[CRD]和3个发现计划。 1)肌肉骨骼步态分析--Begon和Reason已经为上肢肌肉骨骼疾病患者开发了很有前途的肌肉骨骼模型(μForce和Muscleware)。他们三年的目标是开发一种用于实时肌肉骨骼步态分析的混合精确算法。立即，仪表化跑步机与肌电和运动分析系统相结合，拥有这两种算法的所有输入数据及其变异性。 2)下肢矫形器设计-Begon和Allard与MéDicus和Caboma合作，旨在设计一种3D打印足部矫形器，根据患者的脚部几何形状和他/她的步态生物力学进行个性化设计。虽然有限元方法将指导设计，但密集的步态分析对于解释受试者之间的可变性是必不可少的。这包括在仪表式跑步机上以受控的速度和倾斜度行走和跑步，并结合肌电和动作捕捉。 3)生物力学/基于生产力的控制跑步机速度的算法--Begon和Ballaz正在共同开发两款“跑步者”严肃活跃的游戏，在这两款游戏中，儿童的运动--就强度和技术质量而言--会驱动化身。这些项目的一部分是利用仪表式跑步机扩大机会，这种跑步机的速度可以根据实时步态分析进行控制。 迫切需要-立即，将μ力算法转移到步态分析中是至关重要的，它的社会影响远远超出了上肢。跑步机不仅是追求卓越的探索计划所必需的，而且还将加速与加拿大公司的3个项目。不幸的是，很少有仪表式跑步机安装在离得很近的地方，这些实验室也没有工具来个性化模型。 HQP培训-该跑步机将由NSERC资助的5名研究人员组成的小组使用，其中包括18名博士、9名硕士和3名博士后学生，以及每年25名理科学生。他们定期合作，共享基础设施，以最大限度地利用它、HQP培训和科学影响。每月组织关于研究工具的培训。这样的学生在测量和建模方面都有技能和诀窍，这很少见，但生物医药公司要求这样的学生。

REQUESTED EQUIPMENT - In gait analysis, participants usually walk on a walkway with force plates in its middle. Since it is necessary that the subject steps entirely on each force plate with only one foot, several trials are required, leading to fatigue in patients with disorders. To avoid this cumbersome process, a dual-belt treadmill instrumented with 6D force sensors is requested. It will provide, for several cycles, the measure of 3D forces and moments independently under the left and right feet. RESEARCH PROGRAMS - The fully instrumented treadmill will be a central piece in 7 engineering research projects involving already 12 graduate students. The NSERC projects include 2 Collaborative R&D grants [CRD] and 3 Discovery programs. 1) Musculoskeletal gait analysis - Begon and Raison have developed promising musculoskeletal [MSK] models (μForce and Muscleware) for patients with upper-limb MSK disorders. Their 3-year objective is to develop an hybrid accurate algorithm for real-time musculoskeletal gait analysis. Immediately, the instrumented treadmill in combination with EMG and motion analysis systems to have all the input data of both algorithms and their variability. 2) Lower-limb orthotics design - Begon and Allard in cooperation with Médicus and Caboma aim at designing a 3D printed foot orthotics, personalised to the patient foot geometry but also his/her gait biomechanics. While finite element method will guide the design, intensive gait analysis is essential to account for inter-subject variability. This includes walking and running at controlled speed and incline on the instrumented treadmill in combination with EMG and motion capture. 3) Biomechanics/productivity-based algorithms for controlling treadmill speed - Together Begon and Ballaz are developing two “runner” serious-active games where child movements - in terms of intensity and technical quality - drive an avatar. Part of these projects is to extend opportunities using instrumented treadmill where its speed is controlled according to real-time gait analysis. URGENT NEED - Immediately, it is crucial to transfer the μForce algorithm to gait analysis, its social impact going well beyond that of upper limb. The treadmill is not only necessary to pursue Discovery programs toward excellence, but will also hasten 3 projects with Canadian companies. Unfortunately, very few instrumented treadmills are installed close and these labs do not have tools to personalise models. HQP TRAINING - The treadmill will be used by a NSERC funded group of 5 researchers with 18 PhD, 9 MSc and 3 post-doctoral students, and 25 BSc trainees each year. They collaborate on a regular basis and share infrastructure to maximise its use, HQP training and scientific impact. Monthly trainings are organized on the research tools. Such students with skills and know-how in both measurement and modeling are rare but requested in biomedical companies.