Automatic Lower Limb Gait Extraction Method to Support Patients with Gait Abnormality & Poor Mobility

Healthcare centres across the world for providing various long and short time services including primary, behavioural, medical and special care to improve the quality of life. There are currently ten million people who are over 65 years, three million people aged more than 80 years and as the ageing population is growing fast, people over 80 years is projected almost double by 2030 in UK. Although the enhancement in life expectancy offers new opportunities, it also creates challenges for future health care facilities. The rapid increased in the number of elderly people around the world has created an unprecedented demographic revolution which has tremendous impact on socio-economic development of a country. Consequently, creating comfort for the elderly people and ensuring better healthcare, living independently without any attendant with constant remote and local health monitoring has become a challenging task.

Gait asymmetry (GA) is an indicator of different diseases and disease progression. It results in reduced gait efficiency and activity levels. GA objective assessment is important in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with various conditions such as falls or orthopaedic surgery. Gait is the result of a series of rhythmic alternating movement of arms, legs, and trunk which create forward movement of the body. GA can be a determinant of recovery in patients with different diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and stroke. It can be used to monitor and improve an athlete’s performance as well as a patient’s progress in orthopedics and rehabilitation. In biometrics and biomedical engineering areas, gait analysis is used as an assistive tool to characterize human locomotion. GA is important in elderly patient fall risk assessment, and is a predictor of functional and cognitive decline.

In order to broaden the use of accurate quantitative GA monitoring in clinical screening and research, an affordable GA tool is required which can be used in clinic or home. This project aims to investigate and develop a healthcare technology to support evaluation and rehabilitation of patients with gait abnormality and poor mobility at their own home. We will develop sensor-based equipment to enable therapeutic and the healthcare professional to evaluate objectively and scientifically gait abnormality for patients at their own home. The equipment used for remote monitoring of patient activities including falls at home to support independent living. The project outputs will support the development of medical investigation and treatment of patient out of hospital in their own home. This is a collaborative project with Dr Michael Vassallo from Royal Bournemouth Hospital and Dongguang University of Technology. The deliverables of the project are

a) a healthcare technology to support evaluation and rehabilitation of patients with gait abnormality and poor mobility at their own home, and

b) sensor-based equipment to enable therapeutic and the healthcare professional to evaluate objectively and

scientifically gait abnormality for patients at their own home

In addition, three conference and two Refable journal papers will be produced during the life time of this project.

How to apply: Applications are made via our website using the Apply Online button below. If you have an enquiry about this project please contact us via the Email NOW button below, however your application will only be processed once you have submitted an application form as opposed to emailing your CV to us.

Candidates for funded PhD studentship must demonstrate outstanding qualities and be motivated to complete a PhD in 4 years.
The PhD Studentships are open to UK, EU and international students. Candidates for a PhD Studentship should demonstrate outstanding qualities and be motivated to complete a PhD in 4 years and must demonstrate:

• A 1st class honours degree and/or a relevant Master’s degree with distinction or equivalent.If English is not your first language you’ll need IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 minimum (with a minimum 6.0 in each component).

In addition to satisfying minimum entry criteria, BU will look closely at the qualities, skills and background of each candidate and what they can bring to their chosen research project in order to ensure successful completion.