Abstract
This paper describes the possibility of analyzing gait pattern from the changes of the lower leg electrical impedance. This impedance was measured by the four-electrode method. Two current electrodes were applied to the thigh, knee, and foot., and two potential electrodes were applied to the lateral, medial, and posterior position of human leg. The correlation coefficients of the joint angle and the impedance change from human leg movement was obtained using a electrogoniometer and 4ch impedance measurement system developed in this study. We found the optimal electrode position for knee and ankle joint movements based on high correlation coefficient, least interference, and maximum magnitude of impedance change. The correlation coefficients of the ankle, knee, and the hip movements were -0.913, 0.984 and 0.823, respectively. From such features of the human leg impedance, it has been made clear that different movement patterns exhibit different impedance patterns and impedance level. This system showed feasibility that lower leg movement could be easily measured by impedance measurement system with a few skin-electrodes.
