System and methods for measuring propulsive force during ambulation and providing real-time feedback

Abstract

The invention measures propulsive force of an ambulating subject to provide real-time feedback, which may be used for clinical assessment or rehabilitation/training such as that related to walking ability, or any other form of ambulation. Subjects with propulsive deficits have a considerable and underutilized propulsive reserve available during level ambulation. The invention uses real-time propulsive feedback as a therapeutic strategy to encourage a subject to access the propulsive reserve and improve forward propulsion during ambulation.

1 . A propulsion system for measuring propulsive force and providing feedback real-time to improve ambulation of a subject, comprising:
 an ambulation device that facilitates the subject walking, the ambulation device further comprising a force detection device that measures ground reaction force data as the subject walks on the ambulation device and an activity detection device that measures electromyographic signal data from one or more muscles as the subject walks on the ambulation device; and   a computer device including a processor and a user interface, the processor receives and analyzes real-time the ground reaction force data and the electromyographic signal data to produce a feedback output displayed on the user interface.   
     
     
         2 . The propulsion system according to  claim 1  wherein the ambulation device is a motorized treadmill. 
     
     
         3 . The propulsion system according to  claim 1  wherein the force detection device is a force platform or force transducers. 
     
     
         4 . The propulsion system according to  claim 1  wherein the activity detection device are electrodes with differential amplifiers. 
     
     
         5 . The propulsion system according to  claim 1  wherein the one or more muscles are the soleus muscles of the legs. 
     
     
         6 . The propulsion system according to  claim 1  wherein the one or more muscles are the gastrocnemius muscles of the legs. 
     
     
         7 . The propulsion system according to  claim 1  wherein the feedback output is a graphic illustration or an auditory cue of one or more selected from the group comprising: the ground reaction force data, the electromyographic signal data, and stride frequency. 
     
     
         8 . The propulsion system according to  claim 1  wherein the processor analyzes real-time the ground reaction force data to calculate a propulsive peak force or propulsive impulse from an anterior-posterior ground reaction force. 
     
     
         9 . The propulsion system according to  claim 1  wherein the processor analyzes real-time the electromyographic signal data to calculate a mean push-off electromyographic signal. 
     
     
         10 . A method for measuring propulsive force and providing feedback real-time to improve ambulation of a subject, comprising the steps of:
 providing an ambulation device to facilitate the subject walking,   using a force detection device to measure ground reaction force data as the subject walks on the ambulation device;   utilizing an activity detection device to measure electromyographic signal data from one or more muscles as the subject walks on the ambulation device;   analyzing real-time by a processor the ground reaction force data and the electromyographic signal data to produce a feedback output; and   communicating the feedback output on a user interface.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the analyzing step further comprises the step of calculating a propulsive peak or a propulsive impulse of an anterior-posterior ground reaction force. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the analyzing step further comprises the step of computing a mean push-off electromyographic signal. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the one or more muscles are the soleus muscles of the legs. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the one or more muscles are the gastrocnemius muscles of the legs. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the communicating step further comprises the step of displaying a graphic illustration of one or more selected from the group comprising: the ground reaction force data, the electromyographic signal data, and a stride frequency. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the communicating step further comprises the step of sounding an auditory cue of one or more selected from the group comprising: the ground reaction force data, the electromyographic signal data, and a stride frequency.