Systems and methods for analyzing lower body movement to recommend footwear

#The present technology is related to footwear. In particular, at least some embodiments configured in accordance with the present technology are related to systems and methods for analyzing body movement, and recommending footwear based on the movement analysis.

#Athletic shoes, in particular running shoes, are typically designed to correct for perceived deficiencies in athletes' gaits and encourage running with a neutral gait. In a neutral gait, which is widely considered the ideal running motion, the foot maintains a balanced transition from heel strike to foot propulsion without placing undue stress on the lower leg, including the ankles and feet. Accordingly, certain running shoes are designed varying degrees of support on the medial side of the shoe to help guide or control mild, moderate, or severe overpronation (i.e., the motion of the foot rolling excessively inward through the foot strike). Similarly, other types of running shoes are designed with varying degrees of support on the lateral side to correct for underpronation or supination (i.e., the motion of the foot rolling outward through the foot strike). Still other running shoes are moderately cushioned for shock absorption to encourage a neutral gait.

#Gait analysis is often used to characterize an athlete's running motion (e.g., overpronation, underpronation, or neutral pronation) and select a running shoe based on the athlete's gait. Specialty running stores, for example, typically have trained associates that watch athletes run a short distance (e.g., in the store or on a treadmill) to analyze their gaits, and recommend running shoes based on their assessment. Video systems have also been developed that visually record athletes running on treadmills to capture and review the athlete's movement characteristics or patterns while running. The captured data can be used to identify potential concerns with an athlete's gait. Regardless of the manner in which the athlete's gait is analyzed, the objective when selecting a running shoe is to correct for any lower body movement outside of a neutral gait so that the running shoe allows the athlete to run with a substantially neutral gait.

#Many aspects of the present technology can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed on illustrating clearly the principles of the present technology. For ease of reference, throughout this disclosure identical reference numbers may be used to identify identical or at least generally similar or analogous components or features.

#FIG. 1 is a partially schematic view of a system for analyzing lower body movement configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

#FIG. 2 illustrates a knee motion graph and a tibia rotation graph generated using the system of FIG. 1.

#Systems and methods configured in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technology analyze an individual's lower body movement and/or other biophysical data in an unloaded or low stress state and in a loaded state. This information can then be used to determine an appropriate shoe for the individual that allows the individual to run or otherwise move in the loaded state in a manner similar to the individual's lower body movement in the unloaded/low stress state. Certain details are set forth in the following description and in FIGS. 1-18 to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the disclosure. One skilled in the art, however, will understand that the present technology may have additional embodiments, and that other embodiments of the technology may be practiced without several of the specific features described below, while still other embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced with additional details and/or features. For example, many of the systems and methods described below refer to analyzing lower body motion for selecting running shoes. However, in other embodiments the systems and methods disclosed herein may be used to select footwear for other activities that benefit from specialized footwear, such as walking or playing certain sports (e.g., tennis, soccer, basketball, football, etc.). Other details describing well-known structures and components often associated with detecting and analyzing body movement, however, are not set forth below to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of various embodiments of the disclosure.

#As used herein, the term “unloaded state” refers to a condition in which a person's lower body moves substantially without being subject to any load or the associated stress or while only being subject to minimal loads or the associated low level of stress. For example, a human subject (e.g., an athlete, a worker, a patient, etc.) can be said to be in an unloaded state when standing flat footed in an athletic position and performing two-legged vertical squats (i.e., a low stress environment) or when swinging his or her legs back and forth while his or her body is suspended in the air (i.e., a substantially zero stress environment). Conversely, the terms “loaded state” and “active state” refer to conditions in which the person's lower body is subjected to and absorbs substantially larger loads and the associated higher level of stress, such as when the person is running. In addition, the terms “athlete” and “runner” as used herein should be construed broadly to include human subjects in general. Embodiments of Applicant's technology is discussed below with reference to an athlete or athletes, although the technology can be used in connection with other individuals who may not be considered athletes or athletic.

#FIG. 1 is a partially schematic view of a system 100 for analyzing lower body movement configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. The system 100 includes at least one sensor assembly (identified individually as first through third sensors 102a-102c, respectively, and referred to collectively as “the sensors 102”) communicatively coupled to a processor or controller 104 via a wired or wireless connection. The sensors 102 can be attached to various portions of a human subject 106 and configured to detect lower body movement of the athlete 106 in both an unloaded state and a loaded state. In certain embodiments, for example, the sensors 102 can be configured to detect inward and outward (medial and lateral) movement of the athlete's knee and/or internal and external rotation of the lower leg, such as the tibia. In other embodiments, the sensors 102 can be configured to detect other parameters affecting the athlete's body movement, such as head movement, arm movement, and/or relative joint or skeletal movement of the athlete's body. In further embodiments, the sensors 102 and/or other sensing devices of the system 100 can be used to capture other biophysical data, such as forces experienced by portions of the body in the unloaded and loaded states and/or dynamic loading or forces during at least a portion of the range of movement under analysis.