Innovative hip-knee health evaluation: Leveraging pose estimation for single-leg stance postural stability assessment

The analysis of the Hip and Knee (HK) joint angles during single-leg stance (SLS) activity contributes to a great understanding of the bio-mechanical mechanisms and balance maintenance across different age groups. Comprehending how these joints operate in the dynamic state is critical for identifying age-related changes in joint control and stability which can contribute to reducing the risk of falls and improving mobility among people. The possibility of revealing the health of HK joints without resorting to an MRI scan is the significance of this work. By obtaining the data on joint angles during the SLS test, we succeeded in identifying those with a higher risk of HK issues and thus the possibility of early intervention and treatment. Our proposed work is going to use a pose estimation technique that will track the trajectories of HK angles followed by association with instabilities or compromised balance in this way, we can detect the affected joint and evaluate the severity of the issue. The study found stable mean and standard deviation values for HK joints in a young participant, both hips (107.14 ± 5, 96.42 ± 7) and both knees (36.76 ± 7, 44.30 ± 4), these values align with the expected norm (110–120° for the hip and 45–65° for the knee) which indicates stable results. while elderly participants showed high variability and low mean values for both hips (65.42 ± 77, 85 ± 76.67) and both knees (4.15 ± 10.8, 7 ± 18) indicating concerns about joint health and stability. The evaluation of HK joint angles through SLS activity offers new insights.