Gait analysis – Available platforms for outcome assessment

Movement or gait analysis has become a viable assessment tool not only used in sports science or basic biomechanical research, but has also expanded to be a very valuable instrument in clinical diagnostics, monitoring functional recovery and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. In this context, this method has long been an integral part solely in neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy. However, in the meantime the benefits have also become apparent in other medical areas, such as foot surgery, orthopaedic technology, or in patients after lower limb amputation. These procedures proved to better understand, objectify and quantify the individual causes of gait and movement disorders in order to optimize patient-specific therapy. Currently we are able to rely on a multitude of available measurement systems. These can either be used in everyday life for simple monitoring of one's own activity or to complement therapeutic approaches in the clinical and scientific environment. The following review highlights the various fields of movement analysis, including markerless motion capture, marker-based analysis, pedobarography and wearable sensors. Each of these areas presents its own field of application and potential usage as well as the advantages and disadvantages arising in this context. The following article will give an overview of the type of measurement technology used, the respective fields of application, and the selected parameters and their interpretation possibilities for each of the areas mentioned.