Lower limb loading assessment systems and methods

Abstract

A lower limb loading assessment system having at least one motion sensor mounted to a subject's lower limb that is configured to sense the tibial shockwaves experienced by the lower limb as the subject performs a repetitive physical activity involving repetitive footstrikes of the lower limb with a surface. The motion sensor comprises an accelerometer that is configured to sense acceleration data in at least three axes and generate representative acceleration data over a time period associated with the physical activity. The acceleration data represents a series of discrete tibial shockwaves from the discrete footstrikes. A data processor receives the tibial shockwave data and processes that to generate output feedback data comprising data to assist the subject to minimize future loading in their lower limbs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A real-time running gait feedback system for a user running, comprising:
 one or more wearable motion sensors configured to be secured or mounted to one or both of the user's lower limbs, the sensor(s) being configured to sense the tibial shockwaves experienced by the lower limb(s) as the user performs physical activity involving repetitive footstrikes of the lower limb(s) with a surface and generate representative tibial shockwave data; and   a computing device comprising a processor that is configured to:
 receive the tibial shockwave data sensed by the one or more sensors, 
 process the received tibial shockwave data to analyse deterioration in the user's gait by identifying one or more predetermined changes associated with the user's tibial shock signature of footstrikes relative to stored normal tibial shock signature(s) associated with the user and/or threshold(s), and 
 generate real-time feedback alerts to the user via one or more feedback devices based on identified predetermined changes from the gait analysis. 
   
     
     
         2 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 1  wherein the processor is configured to determine a peak shock variable representing the peak shock associated with the user's tibial shock signature, and generate a real-time feedback alert to the user if the peak shock exceeds a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         3 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 1  wherein the processor is configured to calculate a moving average peak shock variable representing the moving average peak shock associated with the user's tibial shock signature, and generate a real-time feedback alert to the user if the moving average peak shock exceeds a threshold. 
     
     
         4 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 1  wherein the processor is configured to generate a footstrike pattern variable representing the footstrike pattern associated with the user's tibial shock signature, with the footstrike pattern defined by the profile of resultant acceleration magnitude data generated from the tibial shockwave data for a period associated with each discrete footstrike, and generate a real-time feedback alert to the user if the footstrike pattern variable exceeds a predetermined footstrike pattern threshold or deviates beyond a predetermined range relative to the user's stored normal tibial shock signature. 
     
     
         5 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 1  wherein the processor is configured to generate a footstrike pattern variable representing the footstrike pattern associated with the user's tibial shock signature, with the footstrike pattern defined by the profile of acceleration data in three axes from the tibial shockwave data for a period associated with each discrete footstrike, and generate a real-time feedback alert to the user if the footstrike pattern variable exceeds a predetermined footstrike pattern threshold or deviates beyond a predetermined range relative to the user's stored normal tibial shock signature. 
     
     
         6 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 1  wherein the processor is configured to: generate a footstrike pattern variable representing the footstrike pattern associated with the user's tibial shock signature, compare the footstrike pattern variable to the user's stored normal tibial shock signature, and generate a real-time feedback alert to the user if the footstrike pattern variable deviates beyond a predetermined range or threshold relative to the normal tibial shock signature. 
     
     
         7 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 1  wherein each of the one or more motion sensors comprises an accelerometer configured to sense acceleration data in at least one sensor-axes and generate representative acceleration data, and wherein the tibial shockwave data generated by the sensor(s) comprises the acceleration data, which represents a series of discrete tibial shockwaves from the discrete footstrikes. 
     
     
         8 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 7  wherein the accelerometer of each of the one or more motion sensors is configured to sense acceleration data in at least three sensor-axes and generate representative multi-axis acceleration data. 
     
     
         9 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 8  wherein the accelerometer of each of the one or more motion sensors is a 3-axis accelerometer configured to sense acceleration data in three sensor-axes that are orthogonal to each other. 
     
     
         10 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 1  wherein the processor is configured to concurrently identify the one or more predetermined changes associated with the user's tibial shock signature of footstrikes relative to the stored normal tibial shock signature(s) associated with the user and/or threshold(s), and generates a real-time feedback alert to the user based on the concurrent analysis for the one or more predetermined changes. 
     
     
         11 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 1  wherein the processor is operable or configured to generate a range of different types of real-time feedback alerts to the user depending on an identified predetermined change associated with the user's tibial shock signature. 
     
     
         12 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 1  wherein the processor is operable or configured to vary a magnitude of a real-time feedback alert to the user based on the magnitude of deviation of the user's tibial shock signature to their stored normal tibial shock signature. 
     
     
         13 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 1  wherein the one or more feedback devices are mounted to or carried by the user. 
     
     
         14 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 1  wherein the one or more feedback devices comprise any one or more of the following types of feedback devices: tactile or haptic feedback devices, audible feedback devices, and/or visual feedback devices. 
     
     
         15 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 1  wherein the processor is configured to provide a real-time feedback alert to the user via the one or more feedback devices until the deterioration in the user's gait ceases based on the gait analysis. 
     
     
         16 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 1  wherein the processor is further configured to identify the time locations of heelstrikes associated with each footstrike, and generate additional feedback data for the user in the form of cadence representing the average time between heelstrikes. 
     
     
         17 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 1  wherein processor and the one or more feedback devices are provided onboard the motion sensor(s). 
     
     
         18 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 17  wherein the processor onboard the motion sensor is configured to: receive the tibial shockwave data from the sensor, generate an alert control signal upon detecting an identified predetermined change from the gait analysis, the alert control signal being configured to trigger or control the one or more feedback devices onboard the motion sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 17  wherein the one or more feedback devices comprise one or more of: a tactile vibration device for generating a vibration alert, and/or an auditory component for generating an audible alert. 
     
     
         20 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 1  wherein the motion sensor is communicatively connected to the computing device over a wireless data connection, and wherein the computing device further comprises the one or more feedback devices. 
     
     
         21 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 20  wherein the computing device is a wearable or portable computing device that comprises the processor. 
     
     
         22 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 20  wherein the computing device is a smartphone or smartwatch, and wherein the one or more feedback devices are output components or hardware of the smartphone or smartwatch. 
     
     
         23 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 1  wherein the motion sensor, computing device, and one or more feedback devices are separate components that communicate over one or more wireless and/or hardwired data links. 
     
     
         24 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 23  wherein the computing device is a portable or wearable computing device comprising the processor, and wherein the motion sensor(s) are configured to transmit the tibial shockwave data to the processor of the computing device, and wherein the processor is configured to operate or control the one or more feedback devices via alert control signals. 
     
     
         25 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 23  wherein the one or more feedback devices comprise any one of the following: auditory feedback devices, vibrator devices, LED lights, and/or display devices. 
     
     
         26 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 1  wherein the one or more motion sensors are configured to be secured or mounted to the user's lower limb(s) in any of the following locations: between the femoral epicondyle and medial malleolus, in the region of the lower 1/3rd of the tibia, in the region of the medial part of the tibia, in the region adjacent and above the medial malleolus of the tibia, or in the region adjacent and above the lateral malleolus of the tibia. 
     
     
         27 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 1  wherein the real-time feedback alerts are configured to encourage modifications or adjustments to the user's gait or running technique so as to reduce tibial shock and/or tissue loads at a given running speed. 
     
     
         28 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 1  wherein a user's tibial shock signature is defined by the varying profile of the magnitude of each axis of raw acceleration data from a 3-axis accelerometer associated with a footstrike, or the varying profile of the resultant acceleration magnitude from the 3-axis accelerometer associated with a footstrike. 
     
     
         29 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 1  wherein the user's stored normal tibial shock signature is generated based on pattern recognition algorithms that are configured to analyse the tibial shockwave data. 
     
     
         30 . The real-time running gait feedback system according to  claim 1  wherein the gait analysis performed by the processor on the tibial shockwave data is configured to identify changes in the user's tibial shock signature that may be indicative of any one or more of the following changes in the user's running form, style or technique: fatigue, injury, and/or change in speed or terrain. 
     
     
         31 . A method of providing real-time running gait feedback to a user running, the method executed by a data processor and comprising:
 receiving tibial shockwave data sensed by one or more wearable motion sensors configured to be secured or mounted to one or both of the user's lower limbs, the sensor(s) being configured to sense the tibial shockwaves experienced by the lower limb(s) as the user performs physical activity involving repetitive footstrikes of the lower limb(s) with a surface and generate representative tibial shockwave data;   processing the received tibial shockwave data to analyse deterioration in the user's gait by identifying one or more predetermined changes associated with the user's tibial shock signature of footstrikes relative to stored normal tibial shock signature(s) associated with the user and/or threshold(s); and   generating real-time feedback alerts to the user via one or more feedback devices based on identified predetermined changes from the gait analysis.