A wireless system for gait and posture analysis based on pressure insoles and Inertial Measurement Units

In this paper we describe a wireless wearable system to monitor gait, based on a customized pair of commercial insoles able to collect ground reaction forces by use of 24 embedded cells for each foot. Each insole was combined with a small form factor, low-power Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and enabled to communicate via Bluetooth with a base station. We present here the characterization of the system both in terms of performance and in terms of functionality. The system was tested on a subject to demonstrate the usability and the features extraction during gait; this data allow to recognize walking phase in terms of swing and stance phase, step and stride duration, double support and single support duration, both using the pressure sensors and the IMU.