Title page for ETD etd-0426104-174716

Document Type thesis

Author Name Castagno, Thomas A

URN etd-0426104-174716

Title The Effect of Knee Pads on Gait and Comfort

Degree MS

Department Mechanical Engineering

Advisors
Professor Allen H. Hoffman, Advisor
Leif Hasselquist Ph. D., Sponsoring Organization Rep
Professor Holly K. Ault, Committee Member
Professor Brian J. Savilonis, Committee Member
Professor John M. Sullivan, Graduate Committee Rep

Keywords
DFA
fractal analysis
knee pads

Date of Presentation/Defense 2004-04-09

Availability unrestricted

Abstract
The goals of this thesis were: (1) to develop a data acquisition system for measuring gait parameters and (2) to determine the effect of knee pads on gait and comfort. The data acquisition system consisted of a data acquisition card that was inserted in the PC card (PCMCIA) slot of a laptop computer, a knee goniometer, foot switches, and pressure sensors. Various drive circuits were designed to connect the different sensors to the data acquisition card. The gait analysis results showed that the knee pads do not have a significant effect on long range gait correlations calculated from the stride interval. Pressure measurements between the knee pads and the knee showed that a pressure in the range of 0 to 8.31 psi occurred when kneeling. The maximum pressure for the sensor located under the top strap of the knee pad occurred when getting into and out of the kneeling stance. The data acquisition system successfully met the design objectives. The stride interval was recorded and analyzed, and pressures were successfully measured and analyzed.

Files
tcast.pdf

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Document Type	thesis
Author Name	Castagno, Thomas A
URN	etd-0426104-174716
Title	The Effect of Knee Pads on Gait and Comfort
Degree	MS
Department	Mechanical Engineering
Advisors	Professor Allen H. Hoffman, Advisor Leif Hasselquist Ph. D., Sponsoring Organization Rep Professor Holly K. Ault, Committee Member Professor Brian J. Savilonis, Committee Member Professor John M. Sullivan, Graduate Committee Rep
Keywords	DFA fractal analysis knee pads
Date of Presentation/Defense	2004-04-09
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract The goals of this thesis were: (1) to develop a data acquisition system for measuring gait parameters and (2) to determine the effect of knee pads on gait and comfort. The data acquisition system consisted of a data acquisition card that was inserted in the PC card (PCMCIA) slot of a laptop computer, a knee goniometer, foot switches, and pressure sensors. Various drive circuits were designed to connect the different sensors to the data acquisition card. The gait analysis results showed that the knee pads do not have a significant effect on long range gait correlations calculated from the stride interval. Pressure measurements between the knee pads and the knee showed that a pressure in the range of 0 to 8.31 psi occurred when kneeling. The maximum pressure for the sensor located under the top strap of the knee pad occurred when getting into and out of the kneeling stance. The data acquisition system successfully met the design objectives. The stride interval was recorded and analyzed, and pressures were successfully measured and analyzed.
Files	tcast.pdf