Gait analog tracings and computerized analysis through a PDP-11/45

Human gait movements are measured and simultaneously recorded on an eight-channel magnetic tape recorder. An electrogoniometer is used for monitoring lateral, vertical, and anteroposterior displacements of the dorsal spine. Independent potentiometers detect arm swings and a microswitch circuit identifies the steps. Bursts of audio signals triggered to a preset cadence by an electronic metronome are presented at discretion to the subject through headphones in order to guide his step rhythm. Analog data for each walk session are digitalized at the rate of 20 samples/sec and stored on mag tape and/or disk along with the corresponding codes. Analyses of movement data are carried out on a PDP-11/45 computer.