ABSTRACT
Quantitative gait analysis evolved from a need to address musculoskeletal and neurologic impairments of the lower extremities. Classic techniques measure joint kinematics in three dimensions at the hip, knee, and ankle, modeling each limb (pelvis, thigh, shank, and foot) as a single rigid segment. These methods have been demonstrated to provide important information for surgical decision-making, and can assist in the measurement of outcomes following treatment. However, the rigid foot segment incorporated into most of the lower extremity models is insufficient for appropriately modeling the multiple articulations that take place distal to the ankle joint; in most cases, no distinction is made between the two articulations that make up the ankle (talocrural and subtalar joints).
