About the project
This project will employ advanced engineering methods, including data mining, signal processing, and machine learning based on our advanced wearable sensors, to detect gait disorders.
This interdisciplinary research aims to deliver critical outcomes that will underpin future healthcare monitoring systems and its potential integration of the Internet of Medical Things.
Millions of people globally suffer from lower limb musculoskeletal (MSK) impairments, particularly those related to foot and ankle health, leading to significant issues such as immobility, imbalance, and overall physical dysfunction. Prolonged disorders or immobility can exacerbate MSK conditions, including plantar tissue damage, muscle atrophy, joint stiffness, and even amputations, severely impacting quality of life. Chronic health conditions such as diabetic neuropathy, Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and neurological damage from events like strokes often contribute to these impairments. These conditions frequently manifest as gait disorders, which progressively worsen over time compared to healthy gait patterns. Wearable technology has emerged as a critical tool for diagnosing and monitoring these disorders in daily living environments.
This project aims to develop continuous monitoring solutions based on wearable insole sensors to aid gait analysis, activity monitoring, and abnormality detection in pathological gait, such as in individuals with diabetes. This interdisciplinary project involves research activities in the development of embedded wearable sensor systems, advanced signal processing, and machine learning, supported by innovative foot biomechanical studies. The project builds upon the extensive research expertise of our dynamic research group at the School of Engineering, as well as strong collaborations with MSK health scientists, offering unique interdisciplinary opportunities for students. This will not only provide the candidate with the specific training required for the project but also equip them with highly sought-after interdisciplinary research and technical skills, essential for the rapidly evolving field of healthcare technologies.
The student will receive training in foot and ankle biomechanics, as well as in the use of wearable sensor data for biomechanical assessment. This training will be provided by the primary supervisor’s dynamic research group, which specializes in the development of medical devices and systems for healthcare. Interdisciplinary training in foot and ankle biomechanics can also be offered by clinical co-supervisors with expertise in musculoskeletal health.
