A Review of Motion Capture Systems: Focusing on Clinical Applications and Kinematic Variables

Abstract

To solve the pathological problems of the musculoskeletal system based on evidence, a so-phisticated analysis of human motion is required. Traditional optical motion capture systems with high validity and reliability have been utilized in clinical practice for a long time. However, expensive equipment and professional technicians are required to construct optical motion capture systems, hence they are used at a limited capacity in clinical settings despite their advantages. The development of information technology has overcome the existing limit and paved the way for constructing a motion capture system that can be operated at a low cost. Recently, with the development of computer vision-based technology and optical marker-less tracking technology, webcam-based 3D human motion analysis has become possible, in which the intuitive interface increases the user-friendliness to non-specialists. In addition, unlike conventional optical motion capture, with this approach, it is possible to analyze mo-tions of multiple people at simultaneously. In a non-optical motion capture system, an inertial measurement unit is typically used, which is not significantly different from a conventional optical motion capture system in terms of its validity and reliability. With the development of markerless technology and advent of non-optical motion capture systems, it is a great advan-tage that human motion analysis is no longer limited to laboratories.

Keywords

• acceleration
• kinematics
• kinetics
• orientation
• range of motion