Gaitspert: An Expert System for the Evaluation of Abnormal Human Locomotion Arising from Stroke

Abstract

This paper describes the implementation and use of a knowledge-based system for the evaluation of abnormal human locomotion arising from cerebral vascular accidents (CVA). An expert system (GAITSPERT) that is knowledgeable about the evaluation of human gait has been implemented primarily as a clinical tool that can produce assessments of underlying stroke disease states and recommendations about therapeutic interventions. GAITSPERT combines artificial intelligence (AI) analysis methodologies with biomedical signal acquisition and evaluation providing intelligent processing of kinematic, electromyographic (EMG), and foot-switch data. GAITSPERT was constructed using GENIE, a general-purpose knowledge-enginering tool, and a knowledge base of stroke-related facts about neuromuscular disabilities.