TITLE:
Task-Specific Gait Analysis: Faller versus Non-Faller Comparative Study
AUTHORS:
Rami Alkhatib, Mohamad O. Diab, Christophe Corbier, Mohamed El Badaoui
KEYWORDS:
Task-Specific Gait Analysis, Vertical Ground Reaction Force, Fallers/Non-Fallers
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Computer and Communications,
Vol.6 No.1,
December
29,
2017
ABSTRACT: In this paper, a comparative analysis of walking patterns during different cognitive states is conducted, followed by the classification of our database into Fallers and Non-fallers; by Fallers we describe subjects with repeated falling history. Vertical Ground Reaction Forces (VGRF) acquired from underneath the heel and toes of both feet are processed and analyzed for that endeavor. The subjects underwent three levels of tasks: 1) Single task: Walking at self-selected-speed (MS), 2) Dual task: Walking while performing a verbal fluency task (MF) and 3) Complex Dual task: Walking while counting backwards (MD).The ultimate objective of our research is fall prediction among the elderly by characterizing the variation of time-domain feature of Gait signals. For that, walking VGRF is analyzed and tested for the existence of indicators of the effect of dual task on subject falling susceptibility, whether parametric or pattern-wise analysis. As a result to our work, dual task in Fallers VGRF signals were recognized at 74% while at those non-fallers were recognized at 85%. Most importantly, subjects with history of fall have shown more potential to change the way they walk while performing mathematical cognitive task.