A Vicon 460 system is used to capture motion in three dimensions. Our system includes a central datastation and five cameras. By tracking anatomically placed reflective markers we are able to quantify the motion of a person. For example, by tracking adjacent segments such as the thigh and lower leg, we can quantify the angles produced at the knee joint during various activities such as walking, running or jumping. With this technology we can compare the kinematics of a healthy person to a person that may have pain or some type of pathology.
In addition to tracking the motion of the joints, we can also measure the ground reaction force, the nearly vertical force the ground applies to the bottom of your foot to prevent you from sinking into the floor, and determine the moments required to control your body as you move. Motion analysis is an important tool for analyzing and comparing healthy and pathologic gait.