P9: Proprioceptive Deficiency Detection in human locomotion

The mechanics of human gait involves many perspectives of knowledge, such as anatomy, kinesiology, physics, mechanics, neurophysiology and also mathematical computation. In this study, walking gait of brain impaired children are observed and studied comprehensively in order to detect proprioceptive deficiency in their locomotion. Moreover, the relationship between proprioception and gait kinematics can be studied and a distinctive proprioceptive gait profile for the brain impaired child can be developed. This research will be conducted in two stages with seven phases.

The two stages are fundamental work of the research and analysis and profile construction. Seven phases are: theoretical studies and investigation, participant recruitment, gait-proprioception parameter identification, experiment set-up and data collection, data analysis, gait-proprioception profile construction and documentations. The expected outcome is a gait-proprioception profile unique to a brain impaired child that can be embedded in a humanoid for humanoid-based intervention. The proposed outcomes may be used to assist medical doctor in brain impaired children treatment. It is also may serve as a foundation for other related study.