System for Evaluation and Compensation of Leg Length Discrepancy for Human Body Balancing

Abstract

Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD) causes a shift of the Center of Mass (CoM) of the human body, as well as an asymmetry in load distribution on the lower extremities. Existing LLD evaluation methods do not take into account this shift in the human body’s CoM. In this paper, a methodology and mechatronic system for the Evaluation and Compensation of LLD for Human Body Balancing are described. The human body’s CoM is measured with two force plates located on two parallel manipulators. Since persons with LLD experience a shift in their CoM, by raising the force plate that is under the shorter leg, the human body can be balanced. For this purpose, the Human Body Balancing Algorithm (HBBA) was proposed and developed. By running the HBBA, the height difference between the force plates under the left and right leg can be measured, which then represents the LLD evaluation. Based on this evaluation, it is possible to design and make a shoe insole which compensates the influence of LLD with the goal of equalizing the load on the legs. A virtual mathematical model of the system was created and the simulation results of the HBBA are presented. The mechatronic system, developed and used to conduct experiments and measurements, is described in detail.