Improving the Joint Centre Location of a Markerless Motion Analysis System Through a Functional Calibration Method: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Biomechanical analysis is a tool to evaluate pathological movements and their rehabilitation. This paper examines the feasibility of improvements to the hip joint centre location in a Markerless Motion Capture System through the application of a functional calibration method. The movement of a young female with no physical impairments was analysed. Data taken from a gold standard system (Motion Capture System, MOCAP) and a low-cost alternative (Microsoft Kinect) were acquired simultaneously. Static and dynamic acquisitions were recorded. Five virtual markers for each leg were created from Kinect and introduced into the optimal common shape technique and in the symmetrical centre of rotation estimation method to determine both hip joint centres. Results showed an improvement in joint centre location when compared to MOCAP information. In conclusion, this approach would improve the data obtained with Kinect and is shown to be a feasible method to apply in the rehabilitation field.