Bipedal Gait Analysis with Segmentation Using a Single Force Plate

Conventional gait analysis using force plate data is typically limited to measuring one step at a time; this can disrupt the natural walking balance of the subject and increase the overall burden on the participant. In this study, we developed a bipedal gait analysis method, using a single force plate, based on center-of-pressure (COP) segmentation. In two-step gait motions, the transitions onto and off the force plate are represented by the first derivative of the force. Meanwhile, the foot exchanges on the force plate are captured by the first and second derivatives of the moment. On this basis, we extracted the COP during the single-stance phase of each foot and calculated the foot progression angle. The results demonstrate that the proposed method maintains practical accuracy while extending measurement capability to multiple steps. Future prospects include optimizing the filters to maintain the original waveform and analyzing the sensor data during simultaneous bilateral contact.