Thesis
Towards real-world post-stroke gait analysis : iterative development and methodological evaluation of a novel, low-cost system
- Creator
- Rights statement
- Awarding institution
- University of Strathclyde
- Date of award
- 2026
- Thesis identifier
- T18036
- Person Identifier (Local)
- 201963999
- Qualification Level
- Qualification Name
- Department, School or Faculty
- Abstract
- Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, with gait impairment among its most persistent consequences. In the UK, rehabilitation services rely heavily on observational assessment, while access to specialist laboratories is limited. This creates a gap between biomechanical insight and the tools available to clinicians. This thesis addresses that gap through the development and evaluation of wearable technologies for real-world gait analysis. The research pursued three aims: 1) to evaluate current UK gait assessment practices; 2) to design and iteratively develop orthosis-compatible measurement tools integrating electromyography (EMG) and inertial measurement units (IMUs) and 3) to validate these devices in both laboratory and clinical contexts. A nationwide survey revealed dependence on visual methods, limited orthotic tuning, and strong demand for low-cost, portable tools. In response, a compression-sock-based system embedding textile EMG, IMU, and force sensors was created. Proof-of-concept testing showed that it could measure shank-to-vertical angle, stance-time asymmetry, and tibialis anterior activation timing with accuracy comparable to gold-standard systems. A feasibility study confirmed that clinically interpretable activation–timing data could also be obtained outside the laboratory, distinguishing recovery from compensation. The thesis makes four contributions: the first orthosis-compatible garment to integrate textile EMG with inertial sensing; a pragmatic, timing-dominant metric set aligned with clinical decisions; a service-centred research pipeline linking inequity to engineering innovation. Together, these contributions advance the integration of mechanistic gait analysis into routine practice. The findings demonstrate that wearable EMG–IMU systems can embed mechanistic insight into everyday orthotic prescription, enabling more precise orthotic tuning and informing debates on recovery versus compensation. By bridging biomechanics and clinical care, this work supports more equitable, data-driven pathways in stroke rehabilitation.
- Advisor / supervisor
- Kerr, Andrew
- Resource Type
- DOI
Relations
Items
| Thumbnail | Title | Date Uploaded | Visibility | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
PDF of thesis T18036 | 2026-06-02 | Public | Download |