Simulation of swing phase gait for diagnosis of pathological motion

The purpose of this study was the simulation of normal and abnormal gait during the swing phase. A four-segment mechanical model was used to model the dynamics of human locomotion system. The equations of motion of the model were derived using the Lagrange's equations. Gait lab data of a normal subject were employed to check the correctness of the model and to compute the trajectories of generalized forces. The normal generalized force trajectories were then used to systematically synthesize the pathological gait. In particular, the Trendelenburg gait was simulated and the simulated segment trajectories showed the symptoms as described in clinical orthopaedics. The results indicated that the developed model is able to predict the motions of normal and pathological swing gait. Uses of the model in the diagnosis of pathological motion are also discussed.