About this tutorial
This tutorial explains how to:
- Use the Vicon ProCalc software to create a simple 6-degree-of-freedom model based on cluster markers attached to shoes as well as anatomical markers used in the static trial only.
- Automatically define foot strike and foot off events for a trial where a subject runs on a treadmill.
- Extract relevant parameters that characterize the motion.
After you complete this tutorial, you will understand the workflow involved in defining a 6-degree-of-freedom model based on a very simple marker set. Of course, most biomechanical models are more complicated that this one, but using what you have learned here as the basis, you should be able to expand this to include other segments.
About the model for this tutorial
To follow this tutorial, download and unzip this file:
The files that you will use are in the 6_DOF_Model folder, which contains two trials:
- Static
- Running
In addition, two Vicon subject files are included:
- LeftFoot
- RightFoot
The model used for this tutorial is as simple as possible. Three markers are attached to the heel of each shoe asymmetrically – two are placed vertically with respect to one another on the most posterior aspect of the shoe, and the third one is placed laterally and asymmetrically, so that the distances of the three sides in the triangle formed by the markers are all different. Two further markers are placed, on the lateral and medial malleolae, respectively. These define the ankle joint center and the ankle flexion/extension axis.
The aim is to use this simple marker set and model to calculate foot strike and foot off events, and to derive some temporo-spatial parameters, as well as some kinematic parameters.
