Analysis and synthesis of human swing leg motion during gait and its clinical applications

A mathematical representation of the human leg during the swing phase of gait was developed. The modelling procedure employed variables which were known to be clinically significant physical, anatomical and physiological features influencing the gait pattern. These included: limitations in joint range of motion, alterations in the initial conditions of swing, changes in joint trajectories and changes in the inertial properties of the limb segments. The model implemented was such that these parameters could be independently varied to assess their relative importance in either normal gait, or in pathological gait and its correction. Using this approach, quantitative clinical data was incorporated into the mathematical description so that a better understanding of normal and pathological gait could be achieved.