Gait velocity control using projection mapping for children with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy

• Published in: Clinical biomechanics (Bristol) 2023-08, Vol.108, p.106043-106043, Article 106043
• Main Authors: Kimoto, Minoru, Okada, Kyoji, Mitobe, Kazutaka, Saito, Masachika, Sakamoto, Hitoshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cerebral palsy; Projection mapping; Reliability; Three-dimensional gait analysis; Walking velocity
• ISSN: 0268-0033; 1879-1271
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2023.106043

Gait characteristics in children with cerebral palsy vary according to their individual walking speed. As such, establishing methods to maintain a consistent gait velocity are necessary to evaluate specific intervention effects in this clinical population. Our study aim was to validate the accuracy of projection mapping for guiding gait velocity to a control gait velocity. This was a cross-sectional study of 13 children with cerebral palsy (mean age [standard deviation] of 12.42 [2.31] years). The target velocity was calculated from the average speed obtained across three trials of self-selected walking speed. A virtual reality system with four projectors was used to project an image onto the floor to guide children to match two gait conditions: 100% and 125% velocity of the average speed. Participants completed three gait trials at each velocity under image guidance. Gait velocity was quantified using a 3-dimensional motion capture system. Bland-Altman plots were used to analyze systematic errors and the limits of agreement calculated. The results indicated the limits of agreement were acceptable for 0.10 m/s for 100% velocity and 0.12 m/s for 125% velocity. Therefore, projection mapping was effective in guiding children to adjust their gait to the intended velocity. Projection mapping is a novel method for guiding children with cerebral palsy to walk at a controlled target velocity that may improve the reliability of gait analysis. •Gait velocity can be adjusted to a target speed using projection mapping.•The promoted speed control did not modify the gait pattern.•Reproducible gait speed could improve the reliability of longitudinal gait analyses.