Human motion analysis or gait analysis is used throughout the country and the world in clinics for pre-surgical planning and postsurgical follow-up. Only recently have technological advances truly begun to meet medical needs by supplying more accurate analytical data from which to make educated assessments of dynamic foot and ankle pathology. A comprehensive overview of current and emerging methods is necessary for practitioners to effectively integrate the new techniques into better pre-treatment planning, surgical and rehabilitative care, and post-treatment follow-up.

Originating as a one-day workshop sponsored by the Shriner’s Hospitals and the National Institutes of Health, Foot and Ankle Motion Analysis: Clinical Treatment and Technology provides a single source reference for the latest technologies and their clinical applications. With contributions from an international panel of experts from orthopaedic, rehabilitation, engineering, academic, medical-industrial, and clinical disciplines, this text focuses on the relevant scientific advances with an emphasis on applications, limitations, and problems to be solved. Divided into two parts, the text begins by presenting basic and advanced clinical applications and opportunities in foot and ankle motion analysis in both pediatric and adult cases. The second part introduces the technological advances themselves from a quantitative perspective. Modeling concepts, seminal developments, and novel approaches are described along with emerging horizons related to mechanical paradigms, imaging, kinetics, robotics and simulation, tri-planar force sensing, and more. The book also includes a chapter of references and sources of support for future research and development prospects.

Clinical and research applications in motion analysis have resulted in better functional assessment, fewer, more effective surgeries, and longer-term follow-up care. Foot and Ankle Motion Analysis: Clinical Treatment and Tech