Quantifying everyday walking characteristics for individuals with and without lower limb loss

In the lab setting, individuals with lower limb amputation (LLAs) have slower walking speed and cadence than non-amputees. However, these measures only represent a small portion of the person’s mobility during daily life. We collected walking data during the daily lives of LLAs and able-bodied controls using inertial measurement units. Preliminary data show that controls not only walk faster with a higher cadence, but also have a different distribution of walking speeds and cadences. Daily-life walking data could be beneficial for evaluating rehabilitation schemes and prosthetic prescription.