Device and method for detecting a step taken with a walking aid

An electronic device for detecting a step taken by a patient with a walking aid, the device comprising:

• at least one load sensor configured to measure a load on the walking aid;
• a motion sensor;
• a non-transitory memory;
• and
• a processor, communicatively coupled to the at least one load sensor, to the motion sensor, and to the non-transitory memory, the processor operable to:
• detect, using the at least one load sensor, a transitory positive load upon the walking aid having a maximum load value that exceeds a positive load threshold;
• measure a duration of the transitory positive load upon the walking aid;
• verify that the measured duration of the transitory positive load upon the walking aid falls within a range defined by a lower positive duration threshold and an upper positive duration threshold;
• further detect, using the at least one load sensor and the motion sensor, an unweighted movement of the walking aid exceeding a movement threshold;
• measure a duration of the unweighted movement of the walking aid;
• further verify that the duration of the unweighted movement of the walking aid exceeds a minimum recovery phase duration threshold;
• and
• conditionally upon the detecting, the verifying, the further detecting, and the further verifying, store an indicator of the step in the non-transitory memory.