Assessing loading rate in frequency domain by accelerometry

The aim of the study was to develop a method to assess loading rate in the frequency domain using accelerometry, and to examine how the frequency-domain loading rate changes with body location and relates to time-domain loading rate during walking. A method was developed to calculate loading rate from acceleration signal by decomposing active motion and impact loading components in the signal into different frequency bands. The method was used to analyse an open access dataset consisting of acceleration and ground reaction force data of human walking. Acceleration data measured at pelvis, thigh, shanks, and feet during walking were used to obtain loading rate at four frequency bands: 0-3, 3-6, 6-10, and 10-15 Hz. Ground reaction forces were analysed to obtain time-domain loading rate measurements, including Average Loading Rate (ALR) and Instantaneous Loading Rate (ILR). Loading rate at all four frequency bands was attenuated significantly from foot to pelvis (<i>p</i> < 0.001). However, the pattern of attenuation was different at low frequency bands (below 10 Hz) compared to high frequency bands (above 10 Hz). Loading rate measured at body segments in the frequency domain was significantly correlated with ALR and ILR (<i>R</i>² from 0.44 to 0.56). However, the strength of correlation was higher in low frequency bands (below 10 Hz) than high frequency bands (above 10 Hz). The study suggests that assessing loading rate in the frequency domain can provide additional insights into the load experienced by specific body segments in human locomotion.